Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

User Reviews

5

2 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    35 mins

  • Total Time

    35 mins

  • Servings

    8

  • Calories

    496 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish, Salad

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

This Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken is healthy, satisfying, and 200% delicious. It'll take center stage at any picnic, potluck, dinner table, or the lunch table if you're lucky enough to have leftovers...YUM!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 2 chicken breast towel dried and pounded to even thickness, boneless skinless
  • salt Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • black pepper Kosher salt and freshly ground
  • 1 lb dried pasta fusilli, rotini, shells, etc. all work well
  • cup extra virgin olive oil
  • cup basil fresh leaves
  • ½ cup pine nuts or toasted pecans, toasted
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese plus more for serving, freshly grated
  • ¼ cup lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 garlic minced, large cloves
  • 12 oz cherry tomato halved
  • 3 cups arugula baby

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle a light layer of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper over both sides of towel-dried chicken breasts. Grill over medium high heat either on a well-greased indoor grill pan or outdoor grill, about 4-6 min per side depending on thickness. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Bring a large, heavy pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta until tender, according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cool water; drain again but leave pasta slightly wet (helps with loosening the pest sauce when tossed.)
  3. While waiting for water to boil and pasta to cook, make the pesto. In a food processor or very powerful blender, add the olive oil, basil, nuts, parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper. Process until smooth and creamy.
  4. If needed, rinse cooked pasta again to loosen. Combine pasta with pesto sauce, tossing to combine well. Slice grilled chicken and add to pasta. Add tomatoes and arugula just before serving. If needed, add kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Sprinkle with additional parmesan for garnish. Serve.

Notes

  • If you have leftovers, add a bit of warm water or olive oil (or excess pesto sauce) to loosen and refresh pasta. Add arugula just before eating.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 496kcal (25%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 18g (36%) Fat 27g (42%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 5g (29%) Monounsaturated Fat 16g (80%) Trans Fat 0.004g (0%) Cholesterol 22mg (7%) Sodium 144mg (6%) Potassium 424mg (9%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 552IU (11%) Vitamin C 15mg (17%) Calcium 111mg (11%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 496 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 496kcal 25%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 18g 36%
Fat 27g 42%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5g 29%
Monounsaturated Fat 16g 80%
Trans Fat 0.004g 0%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 144mg 6%
Potassium 424mg 9%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 552IU 11%
Vitamin C 15mg 17%
Calcium 111mg 11%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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