Description
Discover how to make a delicious Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad with this easy recipe. Perfect for a light and flavorful meal any day of the week!
Ingredients
- – 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
- – 1 pound (454 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- – 2 teaspoons (10 ml) Italian seasoning
- – 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) sea salt
- – 1/8 teaspoon (1 ml) black pepper
- – 12 ounces (340 g) rigatoni
- – Sea salt
- – 2 cups (475 ml) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- – 1/2 cup (120 ml) sliced roasted red peppers
- – 1/3 cup (80 ml) kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- – 2 tablespoons (30 ml) capers, drained
- – 1 cup (30 g) arugula
- – 1/2 cup (15 g) fresh basil, roughly chopped or torn
- – 1/4 cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- – 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
- – 3 tablespoons (45 ml) apple cider vinegar
- – 2 teaspoons (10 ml) Dijon mustard
- – 1 garlic clove, minced
- – 3/4 teaspoon (4 ml) sea salt
- – 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken. Warm the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sprinkle the chicken breasts with Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper. Cook the chicken until it is browned and fully done, approximately 8 minutes on each side. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before cutting it into small pieces.
- Prepare the pasta. In the meantime, fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add a generous amount of sea salt to the boiling water, then introduce the rigatoni and cook until it reaches an al dente texture according to the package directions. Drain using a colander. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and let it cool slightly.
- Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper by whisking them together.
- Combine the ingredients and serve. Add the tomatoes, roasted red peppers, olives, and capers to the bowl with the pasta and mix thoroughly. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese. If serving right away, include the arugula and basil, and toss everything together. If making in advance, hold off on adding the arugula and basil until serving to keep them fresh.
Notes
- Consider using whole wheat rigatoni for added fiber and nutrients.
- Customize the salad by adding vegetables like cucumber, bell peppers, or red onion for extra crunch and flavor.
- Enhance the chicken’s flavor by marinating it in Italian seasoning, sea salt, and black pepper before cooking.
