Chicken pesto pasta salad

Indulge in the delightful magic of my go-to quick fix – a dazzlingly simple creation, the Chicken Bliss Pesto Pasta Extravaganza! Bursting with freshness and assembled in a mere 20-minute symphony, this culinary gem boasts the velvety embrace of creamy pesto mingled with the rich charm of mascarpone cheese. Grilled chicken, vibrant spinach, and succulent tomatoes dance harmoniously in this summer symphony, crafting the ultimate feast for your taste buds!

Dive into the world of culinary bliss with my beloved quick-fix delight – behold the Unforgettable Pesto Fiesta Chicken Pasta Salad! Crafted in a culinary dance that takes less than 20 minutes, this dish is an ode to lightness and freshness. Immerse your taste buds in the creamy allure of pesto and mascarpone cheese, complemented by the sizzling charm of grilled chicken, the verdant embrace of spinach, and the juicy burst of tomatoes. Elevate your summer lunch game with this perfect symphony of flavors!

• Prep Time: 10minutes minutes
• Cook Time: 10minutes minutes
• Total Time: 20minutes minutes
• Servings: 8

Unleash a culinary adventure with these star-studded ingredients

• 16 ounces of pasta perfection
• 8 ounces of mascarpone magic
• 1 cup of pesto passion*
• 2 cups of vibrant fresh spinach
• 2 cups of diced grilled chicken, sizzling with flavor
• ½ cup of bacon crisped to perfection and crumbled
• 1 cup of halved fresh mozzarella balls, a creamy delight
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, bursting with freshness and halved
• ¼ cup of freshly sliced basil, adding a touch of herbal harmony

Ingredient Alchemy

Unlock the culinary enchantment with just a handful of these mesmerizing ingredients for your Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad!

1. Short Pasta Magic:
Dive into a world of pasta wonders—choose from the whimsical shapes of fusilli, rigatoni, cavatappi, rotini, and more. Elevate the experience with premium die-cut pasta like the maestros at Delallo or De Cecco for an unparalleled taste adventure.

2. Tomato Tales:
Let the tomato orchestra play! Heirloom cherry tomatoes steal the show with their unparalleled flavor, but any cherry or grape tomato is a worthy understudy. Feeling adventurous? Cue in sundried tomatoes for an unexpected twist!

3. Mozzarella Ballet:
Dance with mozzarella brilliance! Whether it’s ciliengine or mozzarella pearls, or even a daring move with a large mozzarella ball, cut into delightful chunks—let the mozzarella enchantment unfold.

4. Mascarpone Marvel:
Introduce the Italian virtuoso, mascarpone! Smooth and soft, this cheese sensation mirrors American cream cheese but takes the flavor to a whole new level. Feeling adventurous? Swap in ricotta for a different yet delightful note.

5. Bacon Crescendo:
Optional but irresistible—the bacon crescendo! Add a crunch symphony to your pasta salad for an encore that lingers on the taste buds.

6. Grilled Chicken Overture:
Play the grilled chicken card! Whether it’s your favorite grilled or roasted creation, or a humble leftover rotisserie champion, let the grilled chicken take center stage.

7. Pesto Sonata:
The heart of the composition—fresh pesto! Opt for the allure of homemade pesto or the verdant notes of spinach pesto. Feeling rebellious? Trader Joe’s vegan kale and cashew pesto steals the spotlight as a store-bought charmer!

Embark on this culinary adventure, and let the ingredients weave a tale of flavor that will echo in the halls of your kitchen for days to come! Also, Try the Warm Spinach Salad for a different take on leafy greens.

Instructions for chicken pesto pasta salad

1. In a grand bowl, unite the forces of mascarpone and pesto, creating a symphony of flavors. Set aside and let the magic unfold.
2. Conduct a pasta performance according to the package’s script. Shower the boiling water with salt, and let the pasta pirouette for 1-2 minutes less than the written al dente masterpiece.
3. Drain the pasta, a star emerging on the culinary stage, and without hesitation, join it with the saucy maestro. Pro tip: Don’t rinse; let the starch weave its spell, ensuring the sauce embraces the noodles, while the lingering warmth orchestrates the mascarpone’s creamy encore.
4. With a gentle toss, let the pasta revel in the sauce, ensuring every noodle is a soloist in the symphony.
5. Introduce the spinach, a dancer touched by the pasta’s warmth, gracefully wilting to the rhythm.
6. Now, bring in the diced chicken, the bacon virtuoso, the sliced tomatoes, and the halved mozzarella balls—let the ensemble sing in harmony.
7. Serve immediately, letting the warm notes captivate your taste buds, or let it chill backstage in the fridge for a cool encore.
8. A note for your culinary journal: This chicken pesto pasta ballet will pirouette gracefully in the fridge for 3 days, but after 2-3 days, consider a touch of extra pesto to keep the flavor crescendo alive!

Nutrition

Melodic Tips

For a Pesto Symphony like no other, consider crafting your enchanting pesto. However, if time is of the essence, let your favorite store-bought pesto take center stage. (Psst… Trader Joe’s vegan kale pesto is the secret ingredient for pasta salad perfection!) My heart sings with either my homemade basil pesto or the verdant allure of my fresh spinach pesto – the notes that elevate this culinary composition to an extraordinary crescendo!

1. Precision is Key:
For culinary triumph, embrace the precision of weight measurements, especially in the baking realm. Elevate your kitchen game with affordable kitchen scales, saving you from a dish overload. And fear not, for my recipes cater to both the meticulous and those who swear by cups and spoons!

2. Substitution Success:
Venture into the realm of substitutions with my carefully curated alternatives. While I’ve sprinkled magic into the substitutions I recommend, beware of the wild territory of uncharted ingredient swaps. A cookie may yearn for sweetness, but granulated sugar and honey dance to different tunes. My recipe cards hold the secrets to the exact ingredients and brands I entrust.

3. Salty Symphony:
Unveil the secrets of salt mastery! Dive into the world of Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt, the unsung hero of cooking and baking. Not on the kosher salt train? Fear not, consult my handy guide for conversions. Remember, less is often more; under-salt with confidence, knowing you can sprinkle more magic later. Should you find yourself in the land of excess salt, fear not! A touch of acidity, like a splash of lemon juice, can turn the tide.

Embark on your culinary journey armed with knowledge, and let the kitchen adventures begin! For another healthy salad option that incorporates fresh ingredients, check out the Kale Quinoa Avocado Salad.