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Lunch recipe

Herby Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad with Lemon

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Chicken pesto pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, spinach, and a punchy dressing for work or school lunches.

Start planningStart cookingIngredients
30 min520 kcal3 base servingsMake AheadBatch CookLunchbox Friendly
ContainsGluten
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Recipe and nutrition estimates

Recipe times, servings, calories and nutrition notes are estimates for planning. They are not medical or dietary advice. Check food is cooked safely and adjust recipes for your household's needs.

Focus ingredients: chicken breast, pesto

Dietary fit: Lower Sugar

Serving tip: Let chilled pasta salad sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before eating so the dressing loosens.

Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad plated and ready to serve.

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Ingredients

What you need

  • 220g pasta
  • 300g chicken breast
  • 95g pesto
  • 80g spinach
  • 200g cherry tomatoes
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

You'll also need

bowl, knife

Method

Step by step

Up to 8 clear steps
  1. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad cooking step 1: Get prepped.
    Step 1

    Cook the pasta

    Cook 220g pasta in boiling water with a pinch of salt for 9-11 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain well, then spread it out for 2 minutes so the steam escapes.

    11 min
  2. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad cooking step 2: Start cooking.
    Step 2

    Prep the mix-ins

    Roughly chop the spinach and halve the cherry tomatoes. Slice the chicken breast into thin strips, then fry in a teaspoon of olive oil for 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through with no pink in the centre. Cool for 2 minutes before folding through.

    8 min
  3. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad cooking step 3: Build the flavour.
    Step 3

    Make the dressing

    Stir pesto and lemon with 1 tablespoon olive oil, a little black pepper, and a pinch of salt only if needed.

  4. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad cooking step 4: Bring it together.
    Step 4

    Dress while warm

    Toss the warm pasta with half the dressing for 30 seconds so it absorbs the flavour instead of sitting plain.

    1 min
  5. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad cooking step 5: Finish the dish.
    Step 5

    Fold everything together

    Fold through the chicken breast and spinach and cherry tomatoes, then add the remaining dressing and toss again.

  6. Step 6

    Pack or serve

    Taste and adjust with black pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Serve at room temperature, or cool quickly and keep chilled if packing ahead.