Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe #goodcookcom

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Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

This easy pasta recipe can be put together in no time and have any weeknight or lunch! One of the first times I made it, I was worried the kids wouldn’t like the homemade pesto sauce but I was wrong! They LOVED it! If you are looking to just have a side dish, then consider leaving out the chicken or leave it in for a complete meal. I hope you enjoy my Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe. Thanks to Good Cook for providing all these neat tools for me to work with. Be sure to see how you could win some of these great items!

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe #goodcookcom Homemade Pesto Sauce Recipe

Yield: 6-8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon garlic pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • Salt, to taste
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • [b]For the Pasta Salad[/b]:
  • 1 (16 ounce) package dry penne pasta
  • 1 small carton cherry tomatoes, rinsed, drained, and halved
  • 3/4 cup crumbled feta, divided
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 4 cups Fresh Basil Leaves, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/2 cup Pine Nuts, toasted
  • 3 cloves Fresh Garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 Lemon, zest and juice
  • 3/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarse Black Pepper
  • 1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

  1. Slice your chicken breasts through the middle, length-wise.
  2. Coat the bottom of a skillet with olive oil and place over medium-high heat.
  3. Add the thin sliced chicken.
  4. Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper, and a touch of salt as it cooks.
  5. Allow to cook for about 3 or 4 minutes then flip and season other side with remaining seasonings. When chicken is thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center, remove the pan from the heat and squeeze the juice from 1/2 lemon over the chicken. Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and set aside to cool.
  6. Toast the walnuts in a shallow dish in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
  7. Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse with cold water and drain well. Transfer cooked and cooled pasta to serving dish. Add the pesto {recipe below} and toss to combine.
  8. Add chicken, tomatoes, and 1/2 cup crumbled feta (reserve remaining feta) and toss to combine. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts and remaining 1/4 cup feta.
  9. Serve immediately.
  10. Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan for 5-6 minutes over medium heat until lightly golden in color and fragrant. Remove to cool.
  11. In the bowl of your food processor add the basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, both the zest and juice from one lemon and the salt and pepper.
  12. Secure your food processors lid and turn on while slowly drizzling in the cup of olive oil.

Did you make this recipe?

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To properly make this Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe, we used 7 of the kitchen tools from the Good Cook shown below.

Double Sided Flip Measuring Spoon.png

Nonstick Santoku Knife, 5.png

Measure From Above 3 Piece Liquid Measuring Cup Set.png

Nylon Spaghetti Server.png

Double Handle Colander.png

Prep Bowls, 5pc Set

Spatula Set, 2pc.png

 Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Check out the 15 Items in My Drawer:

My Ideal Good Cook Kitchen Drawer.png

  1. Double Handle Colander
  2. Candy/Fry Thermometer
  3. Meat Thermometer
  4. “Measure From Above” 3 Piece Liquid Measuring Cup Set
  5. Nonstick Santoku 5″ Knife
  6. Prep Bowls, 5pc Set
  7. Double Sided Flip Measuring Spoon
  8. Nylon Spaghetti Server
  9. Collapsible Funnel
  10. Salad Tongs
  11. Wood Pastry & Basting Brush 2 pc.
  12. Double Sided Flip Measuring Cup, Set of 2
  13. Deluxe Melamine Lasagna Server
  14. Strainer
  15. Spatula Set, 2 Pc

ABOUT THE BUILD YOUR OWN KITCHEN DRAWER SWEEPSTAKES:

From June 2nd until July 14th, you’ll have the chance to either build your own kitchen drawer or win one like mine.

How to do it?

Head over to Good Cook’s site starting June 2 and choose up to 15 items that are specifically marked with the “Add Me” image pictured below. If you can’t decide what to choose, you can choose the same products as I have listed above or another blogger’s “drawer”. More details will be available once  the sweepstakes have started.

Screen Shot 2014-05-31 at 12.04.41 AM

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

Don’t want to wait to win your ideal kitchen drawer? All select Good Cook items will be 25% off during the Build Your Kitchen Drawer Sweepstakes! Be sure that you are following Good Cook on Twitter and Facebook to see the latest contest details and to enter to win the sweepstakes!

Also starting June 2nd and running until June 7th will be a 5-day product giveaway on Good Cook’s Facebook page. There’ll be instant winners and you’ll be able to submit your drawer ever day.

If you liked our Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe, Be sure and check out all the amazing recipes made using Good Cook Products:

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Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe #goodcookcom was last modified: January 21st, 2019 by Bianca

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About Bianca

Hi! I'm Bianca. All that I do and everything that I am blessed with is because of my awesome God! It is very possible to be frugal and live abundantly without being cheap. Our family is on a journey to become debt FREE and I am here to pass on what I learn.
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