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Best Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

Close-up of creamy pesto pasta salad featuring fusilli, chicken chunks, sun-dried tomatoes, and cherry tomatoes on a white plate.
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Make this easy, make-ahead creamy pesto pasta salad perfect for your next potluck or picnic. It features a rich, homemade creamy dressing and pairs well with grilled chicken.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound short pasta (like rotini or penne)
  • 2 cups cooked, chopped grilled chicken
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 1/2 cup small mozzarella pearls
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
  • 1 cup prepared basil pesto
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse immediately with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
  2. While the pasta cools, prepare the creamy pesto dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the basil pesto, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and minced garlic until smooth.
  3. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Taste the dressing and add salt and pepper as needed.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped grilled chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls.
  5. Pour the creamy pesto dressing over the pasta mixture. Gently fold all ingredients together until the pasta and additions are evenly coated.
  6. Cover the salad and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to blend. This makes it a great make-ahead pesto pasta salad.
  7. Just before serving, sprinkle the toasted pine nuts over the top.

Notes

  • To keep the salad creamy and prevent it from thinning out, make sure the pasta is completely cool before mixing with the dressing.
  • You can substitute the grilled chicken with 1 cup of chickpeas for a vegetarian creamy pesto pasta salad option.
  • If you want a lighter dressing, substitute all the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, though the texture will be slightly less rich.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/creamy-pesto-pasta-salad-recipe/