Description
Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil. Quick, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing. Perfect blend of chicken, avocado, tomato, and basil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) whole grain pasta
- 1 lb (450g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 ripe avocados, diced (about 1½ cups)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn or roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sea salt (plus more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (optional)
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, then add 1 tablespoon of salt. Add your pasta and cook for 1 minute less than package directions for al dente (typically 7-8 minutes). While cooking, occasionally stir to prevent sticking. Once done, drain thoroughly in a colander and rinse briefly with cold water to stop cooking. Transfer to a large bowl, toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent sticking, and set aside to cool.
- Step 2: Prepare the Chicken Season chicken breasts with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove from heat, let rest for 5 minutes, then dice into ½-inch cubes. The slightly charred exterior adds wonderful flavor complexity to your Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil.
- Step 3: Make the Dressing In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, remaining Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until emulsified. The fresh lemon juice brightens the flavors while the garlic adds a subtle kick that complements the other ingredients.
- Step 4: Combine and Toss Add the diced chicken to the cooled pasta. Gently fold in the halved cherry tomatoes, being careful not to crush them. Add the diced avocado and torn basil leaves. Pour the prepared dressing over everything and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure even coating. If using, add the feta cheese and kalamata olives. The key is handling the ingredients with care to maintain their individual textures in the final Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil.
- Step 5: Rest and Serve For best flavor development, let the salad rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving, allowing the ingredients to meld together. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed with additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice. Garnish with extra fresh basil leaves for a beautiful presentation. The colors of this salad – red tomatoes, green avocado and basil, white pasta, and golden chicken – create an appetizing dish that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 380 per serving
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg