Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad 🌶️🍗🥗
Description: A wonderful one-dish meal bursting with flavor. This spicy chicken pasta salad is a delightful fusion of tender chicken, vibrant veggies, and savory cheeses, creating a dish that’s not only easy to prepare but also incredibly healthy, boasting low-fat content and a plethora of nutritious vegetables!
Recipe Category: Poultry
Keywords: Meat, Weeknight, < 4 Hours
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 510.3
- Fat Content: 6.3g
- Saturated Fat Content: 1.1g
- Cholesterol Content: 65.8mg
- Sodium Content: 86.6mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 72.9g
- Fiber Content: 4.7g
- Sugar Content: 4.8g
- Protein Content: 38.7g
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Boneless, skinless chicken breast |
| 1/2 | Sun-dried tomatoes |
| 1 | Onion |
| 1 | Red bell pepper |
| 1 | Yellow bell pepper |
| 1 | Green bell pepper |
| 8 | Asiago cheese |
| 1 | Parmesan cheese |
| 12-16 | Farfalle pasta |
| 1-2 | Olive oil |
Instructions:
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Prepare Ingredients: Begin by cutting all the bell peppers, onion, and sun-dried tomatoes. Ensure they’re sliced or diced according to your preference.
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Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the farfalle pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.
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Cook Chicken: While the pasta is cooking, cook the boneless, skinless chicken breasts until they’re fully cooked through. Once cooked, let them cool slightly, then slice them into thin strips.
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Sauté Vegetables: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced peppers, onions, and sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
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Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and drained pasta, sliced chicken strips, and sautéed vegetables. Toss everything together until well combined.
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Add Dressing: Drizzle your favorite salad dressing over the pasta salad mixture. You can use a store-bought dressing or make your own at home. Choose a dressing that complements the flavors of the dish, such as a vinaigrette or creamy ranch.
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Top with Cheese: Once dressed, sprinkle grated Asiago and Parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta salad. The cheese adds a deliciously creamy and tangy flavor to the dish.
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Serve: Transfer the spicy chicken pasta salad to a serving dish or individual plates. Garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley for a pop of color and flavor, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy this flavorful and nutritious meal!
Tips:
- For extra heat, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the pasta salad.
- Feel free to customize the vegetables based on your preferences or what you have on hand. You can add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or even roasted vegetables like zucchini or eggplant.
- To make this dish vegetarian-friendly, simply omit the chicken and add extra veggies or substitute with plant-based protein such as tofu or chickpeas.
- Make a big batch of this spicy chicken pasta salad for meal prep and enjoy it throughout the week for lunches or quick dinners. It’s perfect for busy weekdays when you need a satisfying and nutritious meal on the go!
