Balsamic Pasta Salad

This Balsamic Pasta Salad is a fresh, flavorful, simple, protein-packed pasta salad. Full of whole grain pasta, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, chicken, and a tangy sweet balsamic basil dressing, it's perfect for both simple meal prep and warm summer days!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Lunch, Main Course, Pasta, Salad

Cuisine: American, Mediterranean

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 595kcal

Author: Lindsey

Equipment

Ingredients

8 ounces pasta protein, legume, or whole wheat
12 ounces cooked chicken breast chopped
4 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls
1 pint grape tomatoes quartered
4 cups spinach and arugula blend chopped

Basil Balsamic Dressing

½ cup fresh basil
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
pinch black pepper

Instructions

Cook pasta in salted, boiling water according to package directions. Drain and let cool 10-15 minutes. (You can also use pre-cooked and cooled pasta.)
8 ounces pasta
While the pasta is cooking, chop your remaining ingredients. Then, make the dressing by adding all the ingredients to a blender and blending for 1 minute, or until emulsified.
12 ounces cooked chicken breast, 4 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 4 cups spinach and arugula blend, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, pinch black pepper
If assembling one large pasta salad, add all ingredients to a bowl and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
To create layered meal prep pasta salad jars, assemble each jar with a base of dressing, followed by cooked pasta, then chicken, then mozzarella, then tomatoes, then the greens. Refrigerate until ready to eat, then pour and shake contents of the jar into a pasta bowl (or other similar container), toss to evenly distribute, and enjoy.

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