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Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad

Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad is a spinach salad with penne pasta, grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, toasted slivered almonds, and a fresh citrus vinaigrette.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Calories 324 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 heaping cup 4 ounces miniature penne pasta measured dry
  • 1 cup prepared chicken leftover marinated and grilled chicken or leftover rotisserie chicken
  • 4 ounces baby spinach stems removed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds toasted

Dressing

  • 1 large orange 2 teaspoons zest; 4 tablespoons juice
  • 1 large lemon 1/2 teaspoon zest; 2 tablespoons juice
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard do not use regular
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 cup olive oil vegetable oil or canola oil can also be used
  • Optional: freshly cracked pepper fresh parsley

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta according to package direction. Drain and then rinse with cold water.
  • Place the cooled pasta in a large bowl. Add in the spinach and the halved cherry tomatoes.
  • Briefly warm up and then coarsely chop the leftover grilled chicken. Add to salad and toss to combine.
  • Lightly toast the almonds over a skillet on medium heat until fragrant. Sprinkle the almonds and feta cheese over the salad.
  • For the dressing: combine all of the ingredients together except for the oil in a blender. Blend until all ingredients are well incorporated. Slowly add in the oil in a steady stream and pulse until combined.
  • Toss the salad with the dressing (to taste; you may not want/need all of it) and enjoy.
  • ONLY toss what you plan on eating as the dressing makes the spinach "soggy" for leftovers.

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 7gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 1723mgSugar: 54gVitamin A: 211IUCalcium: 247mgIron: 1mg