High Protein Pasta Salad with Chicken

Close up of pasta salad with chicken, onions, olives and feta

High Protein Pasta Salad with Chicken

easyhealthyrecipes.com/high-protein-pasta-salad/

This easy, vibrant Greek Chicken Pasta Salad is packed with protein (27g per serving) and is perfect for lunchboxes and potlucks.

Recipe makes approximately 8

Ingredients Needed

12 ounces short high-protein pasta (like rotini, cavatappi etc)
2 chicken breasts (approx. 14–16 ounces)
1 English cucumber (diced)
½ cup roasted red peppers (diced)
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes (halved)
½ red onion (or less, to taste, thinly sliced)
½-1 cup pitted olives (Kalamata or your choice, sliced or halved)
6–8 ounces feta cheese (cubed or crumbled)

Dressing (Greek-style Vinaigrette)

⅓ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
Fresh herbs (parsley, basil, dill for brightness - OPTIONAL)
Red pepper flakes or a sprinkle of chili flakes (for heat - OPTIONAL)

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Instructions

Boil the pasta in salted water and cook according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water (to cool and stop cooking), drain again, then set aside in a large mixing bowl.
Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper (and optional herbs/spices). Grill (or pan-sear) until cooked through. Let rest, then dice or slice into bite-sized pieces.
Dice the cucumber and bell pepper, halve the tomatoes, slice the onion (and soak if desired - see notes), slice the olives (and pit them if needed), and cube or crumble feta.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice and zest, oregano, salt, and pepper.
To the bowl with cooled pasta, add the chicken, vegetables, olives, and feta. Pour the dressing over the top. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Taste and adjust the salt/pepper.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30–60 min to let the flavors meld (see notes if you wish to chill the salad for over 6 hours). Serve cold or at room temperature. Garnish with fresh herbs, if using.

Recipe Notes

Soak the onions: Soak the sliced onion in cold salted water to mellow that 'raw' onion bite while you are prepping the other ingredients. Pat them dry on kitchen paper when it is time to add them to the bowl.

Use pre-cooked chicken: You'll need approximately 2-2.5 cups of cooked, cooled and cubed or sliced chicken for this pasta salad recipe.

Make-ahead: To make this pasta salad ahead, make a little extra dressing and taste the pasta just before serving. If it has been in the refrigerator for more than 6 hours it will have absorbed a lot of the dressing, so adding a little bit more will really help those flavors sing!

Nutrition Info (Approximate)