Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta Salad is one of those easy meals that feels fresh, flavorful, and perfect for busy days. If you love simple dinners that come together quickly but still taste delicious, this recipe is such a good one to keep on repeat. It has all the classic bruschetta flavors—juicy tomatoes, fresh basil, tender chicken, and mozzarella.
Equipment
- 1 medium cooking pan
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 large pot to cook pasta
Ingredients
Vinegarette Dressing
- ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Chicken Marinade
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
Additional Ingredients
- 10 oz mozzarella pearls
- ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoon bread crumbs
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 12 oz farafelle protein dry pasta shells
- 2 lb chicken breast
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl or gallon size ziploc bag, marinate chicken with ingredients listed for a minimum of 30 minutes for full flavor. Cook chicken breast thoroughly until it reaches internal temp of 165 degrees. let it rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting cooked chicken.
- While chicken is marinating, begin cooking pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions. I recommend not overcooking the pasta to prevent it from being mushy.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain pasta and run under cool water for a few minutes to stop the cooking process.
- For the dressing, combine ingredients listed above and set aside.
- In a large serving bowl, add pasta, sliced chicken, mozzarella pearls, chopped basil, and cherry tomatoes.
- Add additional grated parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs on top. combine and serve!
- optional: add balsamic glaze and flakey salt on top for added flavor.
