Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
A vibrant and easy-to-make chicken pesto pasta salad that combines al dente pasta, flavorful pesto, fresh spinach, grilled chicken, juicy cherry tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella balls, perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner served warm or chilled.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 16 ounces pasta (cooked)
- 1 cup pesto sauce (homemade or store-bought)
Vegetables and Cheese
- 2 cups spinach (fresh, packed)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 8 ounces mozzarella balls (halved)
- ¼ cup basil leaves (torn)
Protein
- 1 pound grilled chicken (diced)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to heavily salt the water and cook the pasta for about 1 minute less than the recommended time to achieve perfect al dente texture.
- Toss Pasta with Pesto: Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the pesto sauce bowl. Do not rinse the pasta as the starch helps the sauce cling better. Gently toss until all noodles are thoroughly coated in the pesto.
- Add Spinach: Mix in the fresh spinach and stir a few times until it slightly wilts from the residual heat of the pasta.
- Combine Remaining Ingredients: Add the diced grilled chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves. Gently stir everything together to combine evenly.
- Serve: Serve the pasta salad immediately while warm or refrigerate and serve chilled according to preference.
Notes
- Do not rinse pasta after cooking to retain starch for better sauce adhesion.
- Pesto can be homemade or store-bought depending on your preference or time availability.
- Grilled chicken adds smoky flavor; alternatively, rotisserie chicken can be used for convenience.
- Serving warm highlights flavors differently than serving chilled, both options are delicious.
- For added texture, consider adding toasted pine nuts or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese just before serving.
Keywords: chicken pesto pasta salad, easy pasta salad, grilled chicken pasta, pesto pasta, fresh spinach salad, mozzarella pasta salad, summer pasta salad
Find it online: https://flavorsbymaya.com/easy-chicken-pesto-pasta-salad-recipe/
