Nothing says contemporary fairly like the colourful flavors on this straightforward pasta salad.It’s my go-to meal prep possibility when the climate will get heat. I like that it’s filled with hen, pasta, contemporary veggies, cheese, and pesto, so I’m getting each taste and vitamin. And I particularly like to carry it to summer time BBQs and potlucks and for my do-it-yourself packed lunches.
![Overhead view stone bowl filled with chicken pesto pasta salad topped with fresh Parmesan cheese shreds](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-3-683x1024.jpg)
I Wish to serve it as a primary dish more often than not
Not solely is that this protein and veggie-packed salad flavorful, but it surely’s additionally straightforward to make. True, it may very well be served as a aspect salad, but it surely’s really a primary dish, with sufficient protein, carbs, wholesome fat, and fiber to gas you thru the day. It additionally works effectively as a aspect dish.
Because of this, I like to make a giant batch to maintain readily available for fast, straightforward meals that my complete household will eat. It’s really a game-changer when life will get busy and I like that my youngsters clear their plates once I make it though they don’t love greens.
![Close up view plate full of chicken pesto pasta salad](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-5-683x1024.jpg)
Recipe Highlights
This hen pesto pasta salad is a recipe I make on repeat when the climate will get heat. Listed here are a number of the explanation why:
- With minimal prep time and simply 12 minutes of cooking time, the complete dish comes collectively in nearly half-hour, that means I can get out and in of the kitchen quick.
- It calls for easy elements, together with store-bought pesto sauce.
- It tastes nice served heat or chilly, so it turns out to be useful on my busiest of days.
- I can simply combine and match the elements to fulfill totally different preferences and deplete any further protein or veggies I’ve readily available.
- Leftovers retailer effectively so I can put together a giant batch as soon as and revel in it for days.
- It options seasonal elements, making it budget-friendly and nutritious.
![All ingredients for chicken pesto pasta salad in separate bowls arranged together in a cluster](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-1-683x1024.jpg)
What You’ll Want
- Diced cooked hen – use leftover grilled hen, shredded hen, hen breasts, precooked hen breasts strips, or rotisserie hen.
- Cavatappi pasta – any small to medium-sized pasta shapes akin to penne, rotini, or bow-tie pasta will work. Use gluten-free pasta, if wanted.
- Contemporary mozzarella – I exploit ciliengine or mozzarella pearls. Nonetheless, you can too use a big ball of contemporary mozzarella and reduce it into bite-sized items
- Persian or mini cucumbers – could sub English cucumbers
- Grape or heirloom cherry tomatoes
- Purple onion
- Pesto – I exploit this do-it-yourself basil pesto, however any store-bought pesto will style nice
- Parmesan cheese – for the perfect style and texture, purchase a block of parmesan and grate it your self.
![All ingredients for pesto pasta salad in a stone mixing bowl, two spoons tossing ingredients together](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-2-683x1024.jpg)
How To Make It
- Mix the cooked hen and pasta in a big bowl.
- Add the remaining elements, and blend gently to mix.
- Garnish with contemporary basil leaves and extra parmesan, if desired.
- Serve instantly, or switch the hen pesto pasta salad to the fridge to chill.
For the Greatest Texture
Watch out to prepare dinner the pasta simply to al dente in keeping with the package deal directions. Then, instantly rinse it with chilly water to cease the cooking course of. In any other case, the pasta is more likely to turn into mushy.
![Close up view pesto pasta salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and fresh basil and Parmesan cheese](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-4-683x1024.jpg)
Change It Up
Listed here are some methods I wish to customise this recipe:
- Swap the hen with tuna or shrimp
- Add in spinach or child arugula for further greens
- Mix the pesto sauce with heavy cream or cream cheese to create a creamy hen pesto pasta salad recipe
- Embody sun-dried tomatoes
- Change the mozzarella and Parmesan with crumbled feta
Make It Dairy-Free
Omit the cheese and use dairy-free pesto to maintain this pasta salad dairy-free.
Make It Gluten-Free
Use your favourite gluten-free pasta, cooking it simply till al dente. A few of our favorites that we’ve examined on this salad are garbanzo-based cavatappi, gluten-free rotini, and the brown rice and quinoa fusilli from Dealer Joe’s.
![Overhead view glass meal prep container filled with a serving of pesto pasta salad](https://therealfooddietitians.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Pesto-Chicken-Pasta-Salad-6-683x1024.jpg)
How To Retailer
Retailer any leftover pasta salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Give the combination an excellent stir to redistribute the elements earlier than serving. The pesto could darken a bit but it surely’s nonetheless fit for human consumption and lots scrumptious.
The Excellent Facet Or Foremost Dish
This pasta salad pairs effectively with quite a lot of primary dishes akin to grilled flank steak, grilled salmon kabobs, and grilled bacon burgers if you wish to add a bit extra protein to the meal.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally nice to function an entire meal by itself. In case you’re in search of methods to bulk up the meal, attempt pairing it with sides like cornbread muffins and fruit salad.
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Recipe
Rooster Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
A light-weight, brilliant and flavorful twist on pasta salad. Studded with tender bites of hen and a number of contemporary veggies, this salad is nice for make-ahead lunches or a lightweight dinner.
Prep: 20 minutesPrepare dinner: 12 minutesComplete: 32 minutes
Servings: 11 cups – 8 (1 ¾ cup) servings 1x
Directions
- Mix cooked and cooled pasta and hen in a big mixing bowl.
- Add mozzarella cheese pearls, cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, pesto, and Parmesan cheese. Combine gently to mix.
- Garnish with contemporary basil leaves and extra Parmesan, if desired.
- Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
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Notes
For gluten-free, we’ve examined and like these manufacturers of pasta when served chilly: Banza, Barilla Gluten-Free, and Dealer Joe’s Brown Rice & Quinoa Fusilli.
Vitamin Data
- Serving Measurement: 1 3/4 cup
- Energy: 340
- Fats: 17 g
- (Sat Fats: 6 g)
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Carbohydrate: 22 g
- (Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 2 g)
- Protein: 24 g
- Ldl cholesterol: 65 mg
Dietary
The images on this weblog submit had been taken by Rachel Prepare dinner of Half Acre Home.
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