Chicken And Pesto Pasta Salad (GF)
This Chicken and Pesto Pasta Salad is fresh, flavorful, and gluten-free. Tossed with juicy chicken, creamy mozzarella, and basil pesto, it’s an easy lunch or dinner that comes together in minutes. Perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or a light summer meal.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1002kcal
Equipment
- 1 Stockpot
Ingredients
- 2 cups pasta rotini, penne, fusilli, gluten free if preferred
- 1 ½ cups chicken cooked, shredded or chopped, grilled or rotisserie
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup cucumber diced, Persian or English
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives halved
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts chopped
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls or diced mozzarella
Dressing
- ⅓ cup basil pesto
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon zested
- ½ lemon juiced, plus zest from the whole lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gluten-free pasta until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water.2 cups pasta
- In a small bowl, whisk together pesto, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Thin with 1 tablespoon of warm water if needed for consistency.⅓ cup basil pesto, 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, ½ lemon, salt and pepper
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, artichokes, spinach, and mozzarella.1 ½ cups chicken, ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup cucumber, ⅓ cup kalamata olives, ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, 1 cup baby spinach, 1 cup mozzarella
- Pour the pesto dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to chill and meld the flavors.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The salad will last 3-4 days.
If you are making the salad ahead, make the salad but add the pesto dressing just before serving.
Chickpea, quinoa, or brown rice pasta hold up better than corn-based options for this salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 1002kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 94g | Saturated Fat: 27g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 36g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 216mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1566IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 1mg
