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High Protein Pasta Salad Recipe

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4.3 from 13 reviews

A vibrant, high-protein pasta salad combining protein-rich pasta, tender chicken breast, fresh vegetables, mozzarella pearls, and a light Italian dressing. Perfect for a quick, nutritious meal or a make-ahead dish that gets better after chilling.

Ingredients

Pasta and Protein

  • 8 ounces protein pasta
  • 16 ounces cooked chicken breast, chopped

Cheese

  • 8 ounces mozzarella pearls

Vegetables

  • 2 cups cucumbers, quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 bell pepper, de-seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, diced

Dressing

  • 1 cup light Italian dressing

Instructions

  1. Boil pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the protein pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
  2. Chop vegetables: While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables and chicken by de-seeding and chopping the bell pepper, quartering and thinly slicing cucumbers and grape tomatoes, slicing black olives, and dicing fresh basil.
  3. Drain and cool pasta: Once the pasta is cooked to al dente, drain it thoroughly and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes to prevent wilting the salad ingredients.
  4. Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped cooked chicken breast, mozzarella pearls, prepared vegetables, and light Italian dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure even dressing coverage.
  5. Serve or chill: Serve the pasta salad immediately for a fresh taste or refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld and develop more depth. Enjoy chilled.

Notes

  • For best flavor, chill the salad for at least 2 hours before serving.
  • You can substitute the chicken with tofu or legumes to make it vegetarian.
  • Use protein-enriched pasta to increase the protein content.
  • Adjust the amount of dressing to your taste preference.
  • Moisture from vegetables can be drained to prevent sogginess in the salad.

Find it online: http://bitezly.com/high-protein-pasta-salad-recipe/