Description
Quickly chill your al dente chickpea rotini! This vibrant pasta salad layers savory chicken, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella for a perfect light, high-protein meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box (8 oz) High-Protein Pasta (e.g., chickpea or lentil rotini)
- 1.5 cups Cooked, diced chicken breast (grilled or baked)
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella Pearls (mini bocconcini), drained
- 1/2 cup Black Olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup Sliced Red Onion
- 1/2 cup Italian Vinaigrette (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the high-protein pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta immediately and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it quickly. Set aside.
- Step 2: While the pasta cools, prepare the other ingredients. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the diced chicken breast, halved cherry tomatoes, drained mozzarella pearls, sliced black olives, and sliced red onion.
- Step 3: Add the cooled, drained pasta to the mixing bowl with the protein and vegetables. Pour the Italian Vinaigrette over the ingredients.
- Step 4: Gently toss all components together using a rubber spatula until the pasta and mix-ins are evenly coated with the dressing. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley.
- Step 5: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the High-Protein Italian Pasta Salad for a minimum of 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, before serving. Chilling allows the flavors to fully meld.
Notes
- Store leftovers tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, adding a splash of extra vinaigrette before serving if the pasta has absorbed too much dressing.
- This pasta salad is intended to be served cold; if it warms up, simply return it to the refrigerator for 20 minutes to restore its delightful chill and crispness.
- Enhance the meal by serving this protein-packed salad with a side of toasted garlic bread or alongside fresh baby spinach dressed simply with olive oil and lemon.
- Be meticulous about rinsing the high-protein pasta with very cold water immediately after cooking; this crucial step stops the cooking and prevents the specific type of pasta from clumping and getting sticky.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups (approx. 340g)
- Calories: 485
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Protein: 5g