Description
Mediterranean-inspired cold chicken spinach pasta salad brings fresh Mediterranean flavors to your summer table. Crisp vegetables, tender chicken, and zesty dressing create a light, refreshing meal perfect for quick lunches or elegant gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked, shredded or diced chicken (rotisserie works great)
- ¼ cup crumbled feta or Parmesan cheese
Produce and Vegetables:
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Pasta and Other Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (rotini, bowties, or penne)
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta by boiling in generously salted water until perfectly tender, ensuring a delicate al dente texture. Immediately drain and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Craft a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking together fragrant olive oil, tangy red wine vinegar, minced garlic, zesty Dijon mustard, crumbled dried oregano, and a pinch of salt and pepper until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth, harmonious dressing.
- Shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized morsels, ensuring uniform pieces that will distribute evenly throughout the salad.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, layer the cooled pasta, prepared chicken, crisp baby spinach leaves, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and briny black olives. Gently fold the ingredients to create a balanced distribution.
- Drizzle the meticulously crafted dressing over the salad, using a delicate tossing motion to coat each ingredient without bruising the delicate spinach leaves.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta or grated Parmesan cheese across the surface, adding a creamy, salty dimension to the dish.
- Refrigerate the assembled salad for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify. Serve chilled as a refreshing and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose short pasta shapes like rotini or penne that catch dressing and hold ingredients beautifully, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
- Protein Power: Use rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken for quick assembly, saving time without compromising taste.
- Dietary Flexibility: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives for celiac or gluten-sensitive individuals, maintaining the salad’s delicious profile.
- Flavor Boosting: Let salad sit for 1-2 hours before serving to allow ingredients to marinate, intensifying the overall taste and creating a more cohesive dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg