It’s been three weeks since your last grocery store run, your fridge is without a morsel, and the only objects left in your wallet are a couple of sticks of gum and some spare change. Cue panic.

Now, stop panicking and read on.

Salad pasta is probably the easiest and most budget-friendly meal you could make. I found all of these staple items in my fridge (I even had cooked pasta already stored in a plastic bag, and used microwavable, frozen chicken breasts to make things simpler). No need to let college get the best of you. Go crack open your fridge and bask in the glory of having one more meal to tide you over before your next grocery run.

Easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes (plus 15 minutes to let pasta cool)
Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

½ pound cooked pasta of choice (I use Rotini)
¾ bag pre-packaged lettuce
1 cooked chicken breast (diced)
¼ cup Caesar dressing
5-10 sliced baby carrots (optional)

Abigail Wilkins - Salad Pasta - Parisa Soraya

Photo by Parisa Soraya

Directions:
1. Cook and strain pasta.  Chill in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes until noodles are no longer warm to the touch.
2. Combine pasta, lettuce, diced chicken, carrots, and dressing in large plastic bag.

Abigail Wilkins - Salad Pasta - Parisa Soraya

Photo by Parisa Soraya

3. Shake until dressing is well encorporated and ingredients are evenly coated.

Abigail Wilkins - Salad Pasta - Parisa Soraya

Photo by Parisa Soraya

4. Serve and enjoy.

Abigail Wilkins - Salad Pasta - Parisa Soraya

Photo by Parisa Soraya