Summer Pesto Chicken Pasta Salad

This summer pesto chicken pasta salad is the easiest, quickest and most delicious recipe. It has chicken, fresh mozzarella, sweet tomatoes, and delicious homemade basil pesto. All of these colorful and fresh ingredients mixed together with a pretty twisted pasta shape and you have the best summer pasta salad.

Just like my Bacon and Pea Pasta Salad, this delicious salad is such an easy recipe to make! Throw all the ingredients into a bowl, give it a stir and it's ready to go. Making my homemade pesto recipe for this yields the best results, but store-bought pesto works, if needed!

Make this as a main dish or serve it as a side dish. It is perfect to bring to a cookout or summer potlucks!

For more summer recipes, try: Lemon Pistachio Cake, Shredded Chicken Tacos with Roasted Pineapple Salsa or Individual Air Fryer Peach Crisps.

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This
• Ingredients Needed
• Step by Step Instructions
• Expert Tips
• FAQ
• Storing and Freezing
• Other Recipes to Try
• Recipe

Why You Will Love This

• The pesto. There is nothing better than fresh pesto sauce! It adds so much flavor, looks beautiful and is quite simple.
• The tomatoes. Using sweet cherry tomatoes is what gives this pasta salad a pop of color and flavor!
• It is easy to make. Once you make the pesto, a few simple ingredients are tossed in a bowl and mixed together. It's easy and quick!

Ingredients Needed

Here are notes about some of the ingredients needed to make this chicken pesto pasta salad recipe. All ingredients can be found at your local grocery store or an online retailer, like Amazon.

• Pasta: I prefer to use fusilli bucati corti for this because I love the shape and it holds up well with the other ingredients. You could choose your favorite twisted pasta shape for this.
• Pesto: I think the best pesto for this salad is fresh basil pesto that I make right before I put this salad together. You could use a store bought pesto if you prefer. Pesto is mixed in with the other ingredients and can also be drizzled on top before serving.
• Tomatoes: My grocery store carries a container of sweet tomatoes that are assorted shapes and colors. You could use cherry or grape tomatoes, or a combination of the two!
• Chicken: I prefer to use the breast meat of a store-bought rotisserie chicken, simply for convenience. I usually buy the one that is cooked with Italian seasonings for this recipe. Any cooked chicken breast will work great here.
• Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella that is cut into bite size chunks is one of the best parts of this salad. I usually buy bocconcini, which is mozzarella balls about the size of an egg, and chop them. If you have access to ciliegine or perlini (small mozzarella balls), you wouldn't have to chop them at all!
• Pecorino Romano: Grated pecorino romano is mixed in with the ingredients and can also be sprinkled on top before serving. You could use parmesan cheese in its place.

Step by Step Instructions

Here is how to make this delicious pasta salad. See the full recipe and ingredient list below in the recipe card.

STEP 1: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

STEP 2: In a large salad bowl combine the cooked pasta, pesto, tomatoes, chicken, mozzarella, and pecorino romano. Stir to combine.

STEP 3: Top with additional dollops of pesto, a sprinkle of pecorino romano and fresh basil leaves.

Expert Tips

Here are some tips for making this delicious weeknight meal:

• If using a rotisserie chicken, remove the meat before it cools down. It's easier to get off the bones when it's still warm.
• If the salad has been refrigerated, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes before serving. The olive oil in the pesto needs a few minutes to come to room temperature.
• For a little added texture, add a sprinkle of pine nuts before serving.
• To add a litlle bit of heat, toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes.

FAQ

Storing and Freezing

Store the leftover pasta salad, covered in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing is not recommended.

Other Recipes to Try

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