Description
This Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad is a fresh, flavorful, and easy dish perfect for meal prep, quick lunches, or summer gatherings. Made with tender chicken, al dente pasta, homemade basil pesto, and fresh vegetables, this salad is packed with vibrant flavors. It’s versatile, easy to customize, and can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 3 cups pasta of choice (fusilli, penne, or bowtie)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella balls or crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup baby spinach or arugula
- ¼ cup pine nuts or almonds for crunch
For the Pesto Dressing:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 2 garlic cloves
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup pine nuts
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Step 2: Prepare the Chicken Season and cook chicken until done. Let it rest before slicing or shredding.
- Step 3: Make the Pesto Blend basil, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, and pine nuts until smooth.
- Step 4: Assemble the Salad Combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, onion, and spinach. Toss with pesto and nuts.
- Step 5: Chill & Serve Let flavors meld for 15 minutes. Serve cold or at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Mixing, Tossing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
