This chicken pesto pasta salad recipe brings together tender pasta, fresh vegetables, and flavorful basil pesto for a crowd-pleasing dish that’s ready in just 25 minutes! What makes our version special is the combination of creamy mozzarella pearls, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach that creates the ideal balance of flavors and textures. Plus, you have complete flexibility with the chicken – use grilled for that summertime feel, rotisserie when you’re in a pinch, or any leftover cooked chicken you have on hand.
As someone who’s developed and experimented with numerous pasta salad recipes over the years, I know what makes the difference between a good pasta salad and one that disappears fast at every potluck. This recipe has been tested and refined to get the ratios just right. It has just enough pesto to coat everything without being overwhelming, the right amount of dressing to keep it moist, and a mix of textures that keeps every bite interesting.
I’ve served this chicken pesto pasta salad at countless summer gatherings, and it’s always one of the first dishes to empty. The beauty of this recipe is that it actually gets better as it sits, making it ideal for meal prep or bringing to events. Whether you’re planning a backyard BBQ, packing for a picnic, or just want an easy dinner that works hot or cold, this pasta salad delivers every time.
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Why You’ll Love This Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
Ready in 25 Minutes. Just cook pasta, chop ingredients, and mix everything together for an easy meal or side dish.
Flexible Chicken Options. Use grilled chicken for the best flavor, rotisserie when you’re short on time, or any leftover cooked chicken you have.
Fresh and Flavorful. The basil pesto combines with juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and fresh spinach for amazing taste in every bite.
Great for Any Occasion. Serve it as a light summer dinner, bring it to potlucks and BBQs, or make it ahead for easy meal prep for lunches throughout the week.
Ingredients Needed
- Farfalle pasta (aka bowtie pasta). The bow-tie shape is ideal for pasta salad because it holds onto the pesto and dressing in all its little pockets. This sturdy pasta shape also holds up well when mixed with all the other ingredients without breaking apart.
- Cooked chicken breast. Adds protein to make this pasta salad a complete, satisfying meal rather than just a side dish. Any cooking method works… grilled, baked, rotisserie chicken and our easy slow cooker shredded chicken are all great options!
- Cherry tomatoes. Provide bursts of sweet, juicy flavor and bright color that complement the rich pesto. Their small size makes them easy to eat in every forkful without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- Spinach. Adds fresh green color, nutrients, and a mild earthy flavor that balances the richness of the cheese and pesto. The tender leaves mix easily throughout the salad without being tough or overpowering.
- Fresh mozzarella pearls. Give creamy, mild cheese flavor and a satisfying texture contrast to the pasta and vegetables. The small round shape distributes evenly throughout the salad for cheese in every bite. We love the ‘pearls’ of mozzarella, but you can also use fresh mozzarella that has been small cubes, roughly ½”.
- Grated parmesan cheese. Adds sharp, nutty flavor that enhances the basil pesto and gives the salad more depth. The fine texture allows it to coat the pasta and blend well with the other ingredients.
- Basil pesto. The main flavor base that brings everything together with its rich, herby taste. It acts as both seasoning and a light sauce to coat all the ingredients. You can use store bought or homemade pesto in this recipe!
- Italian dressing. Helps the pesto spread more easily and adds extra moisture to keep the pasta salad from drying out. It also contributes tangy flavor that brightens up the overall dish.
- Salt & pepper. Enhance all the other flavors and bring out the natural taste of the vegetables and cheese while adding subtle depth.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Make it with more protein. Add more chicken, or use a protein pasta.
- Add more vegetables: You can increase the amount of tomatoes and/or spinach. You could also mix in some chopped fresh arugula for a little spice and crunch.
- Include fresh herbs: Fresh basil would be excellent in this summer pasta salad. You could also include some fresh parsley.
- Add pine nuts: sprinkle some pine nuts on top of your pesto pasta salad with chicken for some added crunch and nuttiness.
- Use more parmesan. I’ll never judge you for using more cheese! Mix an additional ¼ cup into the pasta salad, or sprinkle additional on top for serving.
Possible Dietary Restrictions?
This chicken pesto pasta salad recipe can be made gluten free or vegetarian to meet varying dietary needs:
- Selecting a gluten free pasta will make this into a gluten free pasta salad. If you are serving this chicken pasta salad with pesto to someone with celiac disease, it would also be wise to ensure the Italian dressing and pesto that you use is gluten free (most should be).
- Make this into a vegetarian pasta salad by eliminating the chicken, or by serving the chicken on the side for people to mix in themselves.
Pasta Options for Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad
You have several options for the type of pasta to use in this pesto pasta salad with chicken:
- Whole Wheat Pasta – whole wheat pasta is a great option in pasta salads! It’s higher in fiber, higher in protein, and higher in vitamins and minerals than enriched pasta.
- Regular Pasta – not into whole grain pasta? No worries! Select your favorite standard pasta and enjoy.
- Gluten Free Pasta – selecting a gluten free pasta is a great option if you’re serving this chicken pesto pasta salad recipe to someone with celiac disease.
- Chickpea or Lentil Pasta – there are more and more plant-based pastas on the market these days. Selecting a lentil or chickpea pasta can be a great way to add more plant-based protein and fiber to your diet!
There are also several shapes of pasta that work well when making pasta salad. I recommend choosing one of the following:
- Farfalle (Bowtie) Pasta – this is the shape I’ve used
- Fusilli Pasta
- Rotini Pasta
- Cavatappi Pasta
- Rotelle Pasta, also called Wagon Wheel or Ruote Pasta
Not seeing your favorite pasta shape on this list? You can still give it a try. Making pasta salad is pretty forgiving and you should have fun with it!
Step-By-Step Instructions
Cook pasta. Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Rinse the pasta with cold water and place it in a large bowl. If you’re still chopping the other ingredients, place the bowl of pasta in the fridge to stay cool.
Chop the chicken and veggies. While the pasta is cooking, chop the cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, and spinach.
Prepare the dressing. In a 2 cup sized liquid measuring cup, mix together the pesto and Italian dressing.
Mix it up. Place all of the ingredients into the large bowl with the pasta, stir to evenly coat the pasta, chicken, mozzarella balls, and veggies.
Chill until ready to serve. If not enjoying right away, place the pesto chicken pasta salad into the fridge until ready to serve.
Store leftovers. Store leftover pasta salad in the fridge. Enjoy within 2-3 days.
Serving Suggestions
This easy pasta salad recipe is a great summer side salad for a variety of dishes. It can also be enjoyed as a main dish. A few serving ideas include:
- Bring this pasta salad along to a potluck, picnic, tailgate, or BBQ.
- Enjoy as a light lunch or summer dinner as-is!
- Enjoy as a main dish paired with grilled summer veggies or a lettuce salad. I love eating this chicken pasta salad with pesto with grilled corn on the cob!
Expert Tips
Cook your pasta to al dente. Since pasta absorbs liquid, cooking it to just al dente will prevent your pasta salad from becoming too soft! Overcooked pasta has the risk of turning to mush after being coated with dressing and mix-ins and sitting in the fridge to cool (or on the potluck table to serve).
Use dried pasta, not fresh. Similar to overcooked pasta, fresh pasta is too delicate for pasta salads. Once covered with dressing and mix-ins, fresh pasta can become soggy. Look for a high-quality dried pasta to use in this pesto caprese pasta salad recipe.
Love This Recipe? You May Also Enjoy
Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb farfalle (bowtie) pasta
- 1 lb cooked chicken breast, cubed (grilled, baked, or rotisserie)
- ¾ C basil pesto (store bought or homemade)
- ½ C Italian dressing
- 1+½ C halved cherry tomatoes (from one pint of cherry tomatoes)
- 3 C spinach, de-stemmed and torn
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- ¼ C grated parmesan cheese
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook your pasta according to the package directions. Rinse the pasta with cold water and place it in a large bowl. If you're still chopping the other ingredients, place the bowl of pasta in the fridge to stay cool.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, and spinach.
- In a 2 cup sized liquid measuring cup, mix together the pesto and Italian dressing.
- Place all of the ingredients into the large bowl with the pasta, stir to evenly coat the pasta, chicken, mozzarella balls, and veggies.
- If not enjoying right away, place the pesto chicken pasta salad into the fridge until ready to serve.
- Store leftover pasta salad in the fridge. Enjoy within 2-3 days.
Notes
- Make it with more protein. Add more chicken, or use a protein pasta.
- Add more vegetables: You can increase the amount of tomatoes and/or spinach. You could also mix in some chopped fresh arugula for a little spice and crunch.
- Include fresh herbs: Fresh basil would be excellent in this summer pasta salad. You could also include some fresh parsley.
- Add pine nuts: sprinkle some pine nuts on top of your pesto pasta salad with chicken for some added crunch and nuttiness.
- Use more parmesan. I’ll never judge you for using more cheese! Mix an additional ¼ cup into the pasta salad, or sprinkle additional on top for serving.
- Selecting a gluten free pasta will make this into a gluten free pasta salad. If you are serving this chicken pasta salad with pesto to someone with celiac disease, it would also be wise to ensure the Italian dressing and pesto that you use is gluten free (most should be).
- Make this into a vegetarian pasta salad by eliminating the chicken, or by serving the chicken on the side for people to mix in themselves.
Laura says
This was so delicious and everyone asked for the recipe! I will definitely make it again – probably next week so I can eat it for lunch throughout the week!
Meredith says
I’m so happy to hear everyone loved this pasta salad Laura! Thanks so much for giving it a try, and I’m glad to hear you’ll be making it again soon too.
Whitney says
Everyone at the party asked for this simple and tasty recipe! A easy crowd favorite. 100% recommend going with rotisserie chicken!
Meredith says
So happy to hear everyone loved this pesto pasta salad Whitney! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try.
Cory says
Used bowtie chickpea pasta for this and it was so good! This inspires me to want to make my own pesto too, as the price of the jar I normally get rose by a significant amount!
Meredith says
Ooooh, I bet the chickpea pasta was awesome!! So happy to hear you loved it. And homemade pesto is always a fun thing to make!
Curtis H. says
You had me at pesto. And with grilled chicken? Too good!
ourlovelanguageisfood says
I’m so happy to hear you loved it too!! Thank you for making my recipe 🙂