Description
A lovely quick lunch or dinner, and a terrific go-to for any warm-weather BBQ, potluck, or picnic. Easy to make ahead, and it only gets better with a day in the fridge.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces pasta (any shape)
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2–3 thinly-sliced chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup basil pesto
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 and 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls or pieces
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil, add a generous pinch of salt, and cook pasta just to al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the chicken: Sprinkle both sides of the chicken lightly with garlic powder, kosher salt, and a few cracks of black pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Either grill chicken or cook in a lightly-oiled skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes per side, just until browned on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Cut the chicken: Remove chicken to a cutting board and set aside. When slightly cooled, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Assemble: In a large bowl, stir together the pesto and apple cider vinegar. Add drained pasta, cut chicken, halved tomatoes, mozzarella balls, baby spinach, and Parmesan cheese. Toss well to combine, sample, and add more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve right away, or keep in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Serve with a few extra leaves of fresh basil, a dollop of pesto, or an extra sprinkle of Parmesan, if desired.
Notes
Rotisserie Chicken: You can use 1-2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or other leftover chicken in place of the grilled and cut chicken breasts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 458 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 588 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: chicken pesto pasta salad