Susan's Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Salad
By
Susan Din
@spatdi
4
My family loves this yummy salad It's similar to La Madeleine's Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta Salad, with the added protein of chicken. Served with a green salad, it's a complete meal.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
This is a really great salad for your summer cookouts. It can be made the day before and it'll keep ya out of the kitchen. The Asiago caesar dressing is the perfect final touch! 
Rating:
★★★★★ 3 votes5
Comments:
Serves:
6-8
Prep:
30 Min
Cook:
30 Min
Method:
Stove Top
Ingredients
-
12-16 ozcooked chicken cut into chunks
-
12-16 ozrotini, or bowtie pasta
-
2 Tbspkosher salt- for pasta cooking water
-
1-2 cBrianna's asiago caesar dressing
-
4 ozsundried tomatoes in oil, chopped
-
1 can(s)artichoke hearts - chopped roughly
-
1/2 cbasil pesto-1/2 c store bought or home made-recipe below
-
1 can(s)large black olives, sliced, drained
-
1/2 cromano cheese- grated
-
3 Tbspred onion, finely minced
-
8-10 largebasil leaves, fresh-sliced chiffonade
-
3 mediumroma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
-
HOME MADE BASIL PESTO
-
2 cpacked basil leaves- fresh
-
1/4-1/2 colive oil
-
1/3 cpine nuts
-
1/2 cparmesan cheese, grated
-
1 mediumgarlic clove, chopped
-
1/4 tspkosher salt
How to Make Susan's Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Salad
- COOK PASTA:
Add 2 TBSP salt to the boiling water.
Cook pasta to al dente, according to package directions.
Strain in a colander, and rinse briefly with cold water to cool the pasta.
Allow to drain thoroughly. - PREPARE BASIL PESTO:
Place basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and salt into food processor. With processor running, add the oil and process until smooth. - CHIFFONADE THE BASIL LEAVES:
Stack the leaves, then roll up tightly.
With a SHARP knife-cut across in 1/8" slices to form "ribbons" - Seed and chop tomatoes and red onion. Cut chicken into small chunks.
Place pasta into a LARGE bowl and add all remaining ingredients(START WITH 1c DRESSING), mixing gently to combine. Add more dressing as desired.
Refrigerate till chilled.
After it sits over night I add a little more dressing before serving to perk up the flavors.
About Susan's Tomato Basil Chicken Pasta Salad
Main Ingredient: Pasta
Regional Style: American
Collection: Chicken Salad
Other Tags: Quick & Easy For Kids
