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Lunch
Pesto Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Salad
A cold pasta salad with chicken, vegetables, pesto, and a simple protein-friendly finish.
20 min hands-on
25 min total
4 servings
High protein
Make ahead
What you need
- 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
- 8 ounces whole-grain pasta
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup sliced peppers
- 1 lemon, juiced
How to make it
- 1Cook pasta, rinse briefly, and cool.
- 2Toss with chicken, vegetables, pesto, and lemon.
- 3Portion into containers and add extra greens before serving.
Make it work on a busy day
Use rotisserie chicken, microwave pasta, and jarred pesto.
Swaps
- • Use tuna, white beans, or chickpeas.
- • Use pesto yogurt sauce to reduce richness.