Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Get the party started with this simple and tasty Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad. Perfect for any occasion, this pasta salad is sure to be a hit with its flavorful combination of ingredients.
If you’re looking for a delicious and easy meal for your family, look no further than this Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad. This dish is packed with flavor, and thanks to its easy preparation, you can have it done in no time.
The combination of tender chicken, flavorful pesto, and fresh vegetables makes this dish a favorite among all ages. The best part is that it’s so quick and easy to make, even for a large crowd!
Ingredients
- rotini pasta and salt
- mascarpone cheese
- Basil pesto sauce (the alternative is homemade pesto sauce with fresh basil)
- fresh spinach
- chicken, cooked and cubed
- bacon, cooked and chopped
- grape tomatoes, quartered
- sliced mozzarella or fresh mozzarella balls
How to make Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
- Cook pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Be generous with the salt. One pasta is al dente, drain but do not rinse. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine mascarpone and jarred pesto. Mix well. Stir in warm pasta. The pasta will make the mix ooey gooey and help the fresh flavors meld.
- Stir in spinach until it is wilted, about 2 minutes or so.
- Transfer chicken and bacon and mix well. Fold in fresh tomatoes and cheese.
- Serve warm or cover and cool until ready to serve.
What is the best way to store Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad?
The best way to store salad is in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for up to 3 days.
Can you make this salad ahead of time?
Yes. To make this pasta recipe ahead of time, follow recipe card below and then refrigerate for up to 3 days. Pasta may need additional creamy dressing to liven up any settling.
Best pasta types for pasta salad:
- Tubed pasta: Tubed pasta shapes like penne and macaroni hold a lot of sauce and are great for pasta salads where you want loads of flavor.
- Rotini pasta: Rotini pasta is a spiral-shaped pasta similar to fusilli pasta. It is also a good choice for pasta salad because it holds the dressing and other ingredients well.
- Farfalle pasta: Farfalle pasta is a bow tie-shaped pasta perfect for pasta salad because it holds the dressing and other ingredients well. (you can see our pesto bowtie pasta recipe here)
Ham Pasta Salad
Hidden Valley Ranch Pasta Salad
Creamy Tortellini Pasta Salad
Seafood Pasta Salad (Shrimp)
Of course if you are looking for a side dish salad without the pasta, you cannot go wrong with five-star pea salad recipe!
Ingredients
Equipment
- Very large mixing bowl
Steps
- 1
Before starting, please note that this dish relies on already cooked and cubed chicken and cooked and chopped bacon.
- 2
Cook pasta according to package directions in salted water. Be generous with the salt. One pasta is al dente, drain but do not rinse. Set cooked pasta aside.
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine mascarpone cheese and jarred pesto sauce. Mix well.
- 4
Stir in warm rotini pasta. The pasta will make the mix ooey gooey and help the flavors meld.
- 5
Stir in fresh spinach leaves until it is wilted, about 2 minutes or so.
- 6
Add cooked and cubed chicken and crumbled or chopped bacon and mix well.
- 7
Fold in quartered tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Serve warm or cover and cool until ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Calories
- 199
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Protein
- 9 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fiber
- 1 g
- Sodium
- 74 mg
- Sugar
- 1 g
Estimates for one serving.
Filed under Side Dish Recipes Salad Recipes Chicken Breast Recipes Pasta Salad Recipes
