This Balsamic Pasta Salad is a fresh, flavorful, high protein pasta salad. Simple ingredients like pasta, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, chicken, and a tangy sweet balsamic basil dressing, create the perfect meal prep pasta salad (or pasta salad for a warm summer day).

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Recipe Highlights:

This balsamic pasta salad is a new favorite in my house, and sure to be one in yours, too! Despite its simplicity, it’s incredibly flavorful with its fresh ingredients. Including the super simple homemade basil balsamic dressing.

This is also a very high protein pasta salad (45 grams!), thanks to using a protein-rich pasta, chicken, and fresh mozzarella.

And for my fellow meal prep fans, this pasta salad holds up beautifully for meal prep – especially as a pasta salad in a jar!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions:

For a full ingredient list with quantities, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Pasta: To really amp up the protein and fiber of this salad, I suggest using a protein and/ or fiber-rich pasta. I used Barilla Protein+ here, but have also used whole wheat pasta and legume-based pasta, like chickpea pasta.
Balsamic Dressing: I include my basil balsamic vinaigrette in this pasta salad because it is SO good and so simple to make! But if you prefer, you can use 3/4 cup of your favorite balsamic dressing.
Chicken: Any pre-cooked chicken works great. I use my baked thin sliced chicken breast most of the time, but have also used rotisserie chicken!
Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella is 100% the way to go here! I used mozzarella pearls, but you can also use a log and dice it.
Tomatoes: You need a pint of grape or cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered, depending on their size. You could also use roma or any other tomatoes you’re growing/ have available, just remove some of the juices after cutting and before mixing with the pasta salad.
Greens: I used a blend of fresh spinach and arugula, but you can use whatever you prefer. Just spinach or arugula work great, too, as well as spring greens and baby kale.

How to Make Balsamic Pasta Salad

For complete instructions, please check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients in a blender to make basil balsamic vinaigrette

While the pasta is cooking and cooling, chop your chicken and vegetables and blend the salad dressing.

Once pasta has cooled, you can either toss it into one pasta salad, or you can layer it in 24-ounce jars. Pour the dressing in on the bottom, then the pasta, next the chicken, then mozzarella, tomatoes, and greens at the end.

Pasta Salad Meal Prep Tips

Pasta cooking time will vary based on the type of pasta you use, but be sure to cook it al dente according to your pasta package’s instructions.
Cool pasta and chicken completely before adding to meal prep jars. Trapping residual heat inside can wilt the greens and melt the cheese.
By layering the pasta salad in the jars it helps keep each individual ingredient as fresh as possible.
Meal prepped pasta salad jars can be kept in the fridge for up to four days.

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