Description
A delightful chicken pesto pasta salad that combines fresh vegetables with savory chicken and rich pesto, perfect for busy weeknights or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cooked pasta (like rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and diced chicken.
- Add the basil pesto and mix until well coated.
- Gently fold in the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for an hour to let flavors meld.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature. Optionally, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top for extra flavor.
Notes
Use any type of cooked pasta you prefer; whole grain or gluten-free pasta works well too. For added nutrition, include other vegetables like bell peppers or spinach. You can also try adding garlic powder or a squeeze of lemon juice for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg