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Quick & Easy Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

This Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad is packed with juicy chicken, fresh tomatoes, and basil pesto—perfect for easy lunches, cookouts, or meal prep!
Course Main Dishes, Salad, Side Dish

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Uncooked Rotini Pasta
  • 3 Cups Cubed Cooked Chicken
  • 1 Pint Grape Tomatoes - halved or quartered
  • 4 oz Mozzarella Pearls
  • 2 Cups Baby Arugula & Spinach
  • ½ Cup Diced Red Onion
  • 1 Cup Chopped Cucumber
  • 1- 6.7 oz Jar of Pesto
  • Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
  • ½ Cup Sun Dried Tomatoes drained and chopped
  • ¼ Cup Pine Nuts
  • Salt

Instructions

  • First- cook your pasta in salted water according to package directions to al dente. When the pasta is finished, drain it and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta.
  • While the pasta is cooking you can toast your pine nuts. To toast them place them in a small dry skillet in an even layer. Heat them over medium low heat, stirring occasionally for about 3-5 minutes or until they are a nice golden brown. Be careful they burn easily. Set the toasted pine nuts aside to cool
  • Place the cooked and drained pasta in a large bowl add in the chicken, then add in the cut tomatoes, chopped cucumber and diced onions. Stir gently until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
  • Roughly chop or tear the spinach and arugula, add it in and stir to distribute.
  • Next add in the pesto and the sun dried tomatoes. Stir until everything is evenly coated with the pesto.
  • Now add in the shredded parmesan cheese, mozzarella pearls, and toasted pine nuts. Stir to evenly distribute.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Garnish with additional shredded parmesan and toasted pine nuts if desired.