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Little Dairy On The Prairie » Recipes » Course » Salad » Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken

Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken

Created by Amy Engberson 20 Comments

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Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken is a light main dish salad that’s full of zesty flavor! It’s can be made ahead of time and includes leftover grilled chicken! Now that’s my idea of a perfect summer recipe!

pesto pasta in a bowl with basil on top of it and a black spoon in it with lemons in the background on a black and white checkered napkin

Hey everyone! Summer is here and I’m completely in love with it! It’s been warm enough to get out and enjoy my yard, ride my bike, go for jogs, and grill!

This is the time of the year when my boys don’t get home from work until about 10:00 every single night! I’m not even kidding you when I admit that I threw a cake in the oven at about 11:00 one night while I was waiting for my guys to finish up their work for the day. I knew it would have a chance to bake and cool before my bedtime would finally arrive!

These are the days when I’m always looking for make ahead meals so I don’t have to start throwing dinner together when I’m ready to finally take it easy.

3 Ingredient Grilled Chicken - no marinading, extra juicy, quick and easy

How to use leftover grilled chicken.

A few weeks ago I shared my very favorite 3 Ingredient Grilled Chicken Recipe. It’s seasoned enough to give it amazing flavor, but it’s versatile enough to be used as transformed into all different kinds of leftovers.

My sister was telling me how much she loves Pioneer Woman’s Creamy Lemon Basil Potato Salad and we decided it would make a divine pasta salad with grilled chicken.

We were right! This salad is divine! Since I already had leftover grilled chicken in the fridge the whole salad came together in no time at all.

In fact, I made it earlier in the day and when my boys came home it was already for them! Don’t panic if it seems like it’s a little too saucy to begin with. As it sits the pasta will soak up some of the dressing. Saucy was never a bad thing anyway!

overhead view of pesto pasta in a turquoise bowl, with lemons in the background on a black and white checkered napkin

What vegetables can I add to my pasta salad?

When I first made this pasta salad I had every intention of adding cherry tomatoes. As soon as I took my first bite I completely forgot about the tomatoes and pretty much buried myself in the bowl! You could definitely add other things to it to add crunch, even more flavor, or nutritious veggies. These would all be great options!

  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Pine nuts, or walnuts
  • Steamed broccoli, or asparagus
  • Sun Dried tomatoes
  • Cheese
  • Bacon crumbles
Cookie Scoops of basil pesto on a parchment lined cookie sheet

Where do I get pesto and can I make it myself?

Purchase pesto in the grocery store in the aisle near the pasta sauces. Some grocery stores have fresh pesto in the refrigerator section.

Since pesto is a bit expensive I like to grow basil and parsley in my garden and make my own Homemade Basil Pesto. This is one of my pictures from my early blogging days! It’s a little fuzzy but you get the idea. Regardless of the quality of the photo, this is still the recipe I use to make and freeze my pesto!

  • Scoop it with an ice cream scoop and set it on a cookie sheet.
  • Flash freeze it for an hour or so.
  • Remove from sheet and place in a sealable freezer bag.
  • Freeze until you are ready to use it.
  • Thaw it by setting it on at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Making your own pesto is so much less expensive and it’s handy to have it already sitting in the freezer when you need it. It’s nice to be able to thaw just a tiny bit at a time too. I add it to soups, spaghetti sauce, sauces, and salads all year long.

Overhead view of savory monkey bread

What to serve with Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken

Well, you don’t need much besides this salad since it already has grilled chicken tossed in there. Of course it’s nice to have some bread to go along with it just to make it extra special

Here are some of my favorites! They are all pretty easy to make and go perfectly with this, or any, pasta!.

  • Butter Dips
  • Cheesy Bacon Ranch Monkey Bread
  • Easy Parmesan and Garlic Dinner Rolls
  • Whole Wheat French Bread
  • Fool Proof Wheat Bread
A boy in a red shirt sitting in farm equipment

What’s happening on the farm?

We are still harvesting our alfalfa hay. Basically we are putting it in long vacuum sealed bags and storing the feed until we are ready to feed it to the cows. During harvesrt we need two swather drivers, one person to rake, and one person to operate the bagger.

Sometimes harvest runs really smooth and we are able to finish quickly. This crop though…is it ever going to end? I just got home from delivering Pulled Pork Enchiladas to the crew. My car smells like a Mexican restaurant, and I’m itchy from getting chopped hay all over me. Usually I drive the rake tractor, but since I had to get all the paperwork ready for the vet to come today, so I’m stuck in front of the computer in the house. I’d much rather drive a tractor.

A man and a woman sitting in farm equipement

I got home from my dinner deliveries at about 11:00, and both swathers (the machine that mows the hay down) were broken. I guess they got it back up and going because Carson just came home and told me he’s headed back out to swath for a few more hours. Now, let’s cross our fingers and hope the darn thing doesn’t break down again.

It’s a super busy time of the year, but it’s all good! I even got to ride in the bagger for my weekly date night tonight! It smelled like a Mexican restaurant so we can pretend like we went out to eat! Life is all how you look at it!

pesto pasta in a bowl with basil on top of it and a black spoon in it with lemons in the background on a black and white checkered napkin

Grab the recipe!

Sometimes my boys turn their noses up at main dish salads because they are meat and taters kind of guys. You know what though, they polished off the whole bowl of this salad in one sitting!

The fresh lemon brightens the flavors of creamy pesto dressing and gives it just the right amount of zest! Basil pesto is exactly what summer should taste like, and adding it to a creamy sauce only makes it better! Grilled chicken makes it hearty enough for dinner. Oh, and don’t forget the cheese on top! Yum!

pesto pasta in a bowl with basil on top of it and a black spoon in it with lemons in the background on a black and white checkered napkin

Whip up a big bowl of it and enjoy the rest of your day knowing dinner is in the fridge waiting for you! Hopefully you are in bed before midnight tonight, and hopefully my guys are extra quite when they start rolling in tonight!

Pasta with grated parmesan cheese and grilled chicken on top of it in a blue dish, a black and white checkered napkin, lemons and basil in the background

Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken

Chicken Pesto Pasta is made with grilled chicken, noodles, and basil pesto! This pasta is tossed in a creamy sauce that makes it the ultimate comfort food! It's a perfect summer salad!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish, Salad
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad, Pesto Chicken Pasta, Pesto Chicken Salad, Pesto Pasta Salad
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 11 minutes
Total Time: 31 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories: 322kcal
Author: Amy

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces pasta I used Cellentani
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup mayonnaise you can use plain Greek yogurt
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 Tablespoons pesto
  • 2 cups grilled chicken sliced
  • ¼ cups parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cups sliced basil leaves optional

Instructions

  • Boil pasta according to package directions. Drain. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, mayo, salt, pepper, and pesto together.
  • Add drained and cooled pasta, and chicken to dressing. Toss to coat.
  • Put in a serving bowl if desired. Garnish with basil leaves and grated parmesan cheese.
  • Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. You can refrigerate longer.

Notes

Ingredients:
  • Pesto – Use store-bought or make your own Homemade Basil Pesto
  • Chicken – Leftover grilled chicken makes this recipe quick and easy. You can also use rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 663mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 492IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @littledairyontheprairie or tag #littledairyontheprairie!
Pasta Salad with grilled chicken and creamy lemon basil salad dressing
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about amy

About Amy Engberson

I live on a dairy with my husband and three boys. Although we are in the business of raising cattle, we really are in the business of raising boys. I am passionate about catching up with each other at meal times. My love language is food. And I hope that my men feel the love in every bite. Read more...

Filed Under: Chicken/Poultry, Salad

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  1. Dee says

    June 13, 2018 at 10:30 pm

    This looks amazing! I love lemon flavors during the summer!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      Me too! Lemon just seems like the right thing to eat during the summer!

      Reply
  2. Katerina @ diethood .com says

    June 14, 2018 at 6:30 am

    Such an incredible pasta salad!! YUM!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:55 pm

      It’s such a fun switch up on traditional pasta salads we are used to!

      Reply
  3. carrie @ frugal foodie mama says

    June 14, 2018 at 6:40 am

    Such a perfect dish for summertime! I am loving the flavors happening here. 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      The flavors in this pasta are different than the traditional mayo based pasta salads. It’s light, fresh, and bright! We love it!

      Reply
  4. Allyson Zea says

    June 14, 2018 at 11:42 am

    I love me some pesto so I will definitely be trying this! YUM!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:54 pm

      Me too! It’s a summer staple!

      Reply
  5. Jacque Hastert says

    June 14, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    This looks amazing! My family would ask for seconds!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:53 pm

      I wouldn’t blame them one bit for wanting to go back for seconds! We polished off the whole bowl in no time at all!

      Reply
  6. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    June 14, 2018 at 7:49 pm

    I need to try this immediately, it looks so good!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:53 pm

      It’s such an easy summer meal!

      Reply
  7. Krista says

    June 15, 2018 at 8:23 am

    This sounds so refreshing! I have to make it soon for sure!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      June 15, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      There’s just something about pesto and zesty lemon that makes this dish feel bright and fresh!

      Reply
  8. Miss B says

    July 17, 2018 at 11:01 pm

    I was excited to try this recipe and it was bland. I let it sit 7 hours before serving and I even doubled the amount of pesto (which I felt it needed more of) and added some diced fresh mozzarella… but it was still bland. I used rotisserie chicken instead of grilled, but I don’t think that would of made much of a difference.

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      July 19, 2018 at 6:47 pm

      Hmmmm!I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe adding a little more salt and pepper would have upped the flavor? I love the bright fresh flavors along with the pesto!

      Reply
  9. Emily says

    March 30, 2020 at 4:08 pm

    5 stars
    My husband declared this in his top 5 favorite meals I’ve ever made. So, yeah it’s a keeper!

    Reply
    • Amy Engberson says

      April 4, 2020 at 1:51 pm

      Yay! That’s quite the compliment! Sounds like you’ll be making this again and again!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weekly Family Meal Plan 141 | NeighborFood says:
    June 24, 2018 at 5:05 am

    […] Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken from Little Dairy on the Prairie  […]

    Reply
  2. Family Meal Plan Week 139 - Garnish & Glaze says:
    June 24, 2018 at 5:37 am

    […] Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad | Little Dairy on the Prairie – Lemon Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken is a light main dish salad that’s full of zesty flavor! It’s can be made ahead of time and includes leftover grilled chicken!  […]

    Reply
Hi I’m Amy! Welcome to my stinky farm life where my days are filled with chasing kids and cows! It’s all about simply delicious food around here! If you leave my house hungry…it’s your own fault! Read More..

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