Jim’s Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad

Name: Jim's Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 large precooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (Option ); 1 lb cooked spiral pasta; 2 cups mozzarella balls; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; BALASIMIC DRESSING INGREDIENTS; 1 cup fresh basil leaves before cutting in small pieces; 2/3 cup olive oil; 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar; 3 tablespoon honey; 1 green onion or shallot chopped finely; 2 tablespoons finely cut or chopped fresh basil; 3 cloves finely chopped garlic; to taste salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes

September 19, 2024 154 Comments

19 Sep

It is still warm enough to enjoy fresh salads as an entree. Plus our garden is still producing!

Jim’s Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad included cherry tomatoes from the garden. Yes, there are still fresh tomatoes to pick! The basil is from the plant in our kitchen window.

use leftovers and garden tomatoes and basil

Tomatoes are still ripening. We have a basil plant in the kitchen window.

We have baked boneless chicken breasts at least 2X a week. Do we have leftovers? Yes. They get used in tossed salads, enchiladas and other dishes.

Really, can you afford to waste any food these days?

Little food goes to waste in our empty nest house.

Jim cubed the leftover chicken breast for the Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad.

We also had leftover spiral pasta. It’s already chilled from being stored in the refrigerator. You sure don’t want to put warm pasta in a salad! It will wilt fresh ingredients. Any type of cheese would also melt some.

One way to expedite the cooling of the pasta after you drain is to rinse it with cold water. I also toss ice cubes in stirring them around to cool off the pasta that’s in the drainer. Add as much as needed to give the hot pasta a quick cool down. The melted ice will drain and slow any continued cooking.

It’s not unusual to have extra. We eat it and so does Meg if she comes by after an extra long day of work to grab some food. Her work place is less than 10 minutes from our house. Until her training period is over, she usually gets off work after 8 PM.

Plus, we love it when she comes by. It’s a quick stop and she doesn’t go past the kitchen most nights. We have a chat while she eats then leaves.

Fills our empty nest missing our kids bucket. We do get to see all of our kids regularly dependent on their location and work schedules.

So blessed by that!

Quick and Easy

Cutting and chopping is part of making any salad.

For this salad, you cube the chicken and slice the tomatoes in half. The balsamic dressing has you chopping or mincing the garlic and green onions. The basil is cut into small pieces. Look closely to see how small it is cut.

You want the flavor of basil to enhance all the ingredients, not to overpower it. That is why Jim cuts instead of tearing.

Toss everything together including the balsemic dressing.

It is ready to eat but we have found it is so much better if it marinates for several hours, even overnight. For the 2 of us it was a large amount. We had it for supper and several lunches during the week.

Jim’s Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad

3.03 from 142 votes

Jim's Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad for refreshing entree

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Servings: 8

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

1 large precooked boneless skinless chicken breasts Option
1 lb cooked spiral pasta
2 cups mozzarella balls
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
BALASIMIC DRESSING INGREDIENTS
1 cup fresh basil leaves before cutting in small pieces
2/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoon honey
1 green onion or shallot chopped finely
2 tablespoons finely cut or chopped fresh basil
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
to taste salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes

Equipment

knife and cutting board
kitchen scissors
large mixing bowl
large pasta pot
strainer
large slotted spoon

Method

Balsamic Dressing

Combine all ingredients in jar with lid. Whisk well until all ingredients are totally smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste as needed. Use about 1/3 to marinate uncooked chicken. If you are using left over baked chicken, use all the dressing in the salad mixture.
Making Pasta Chicken Salad
Cook pasta al dente. You can also use leftover pasta. Cool.
Chopped cooked chicken breast into small bite sized cubes.
Half cherry tomatoes unless, they are smaller to bite sized
Add mozzarella balls and cooled pasta
Using a large mixing bowl add all ingredients as you prepare them. Add balsamic dressing and toss until well mixed. Chill as needed.
The salad is ready to eat. For best taste, marinate several hours or overnight

Delicious to eat!

Summer is officially over in a few days but most of us live where there are still very warm days ahead. Still perfect for Jim’s Garden Pasta and Chicken Salad.

Hope you enjoy every bite!