High Protein Chicken Parmesan Pasta Salad
High Protein Chicken Parmesan Pasta Salad with chicken, rotini, mozzarella, Parmesan, marinara, basil, and Italian seasoning.
Recipes are written with one action per step for accessibility. Short lines. Fewer rereads. A calmer kitchen on mobile or desktop.
Ingredients
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup part-skim mozzarella pearls
- ½ cup fat-free marinara sauce
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup Italian seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until tender. Drain pasta in a colander. Rinse pasta under cold water until cooled. Drain well.
- Add cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add chicken, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, Parmesan cheese, and basil.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk marinara sauce, olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Pour dressing over pasta mixture. Toss until evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
- Stir before serving Sprinkle with seasoned breadcrumbs right before serving, if using.
Notes
Storing
Store in Refrigerator - Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Store Breadcrumbs Separately - Keep the breadcrumbs in a separate container and add them right before serving. Do Not Freeze - This pasta salad does not freeze well because the pasta, tomatoes, and mozzarella can change texture.Nutrition
Calories: 434kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 29gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 579mgPotassium: 399mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 430IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 216mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe? Let us know what you think!Mention @nestinglane or tag #nestinglane