This Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad Is Summer’s Favorite Make Ahead Lunch

Nothing says fresh quite like the vibrant flavors in this easy pasta salad.It’s my go-to meal prep option when the weather gets warm. I love that it’s full of chicken, pasta, fresh veggies, cheese, and pesto, so I’m getting both flavor and nutrition. And I especially love to bring it to summer BBQs and potlucks and for my homemade packed lunches.

I Like to serve it as a main dish most of the time

Not only is this protein and veggie-packed salad flavorful, but it’s also easy to make. True, it could be served as a side salad, but it’s truly a main dish, with enough protein, carbs, healthy fats, and fiber to fuel you through the day. It also works well as a side dish.

For this reason, I love to make a big batch to keep on hand for quick, easy meals that my whole family will eat. It’s truly a game-changer when life gets busy and I love that my kids clean their plates when I make it even though they don’t love vegetables.

What You’ll Need

• Diced cooked chicken – use leftover grilled chicken, shredded chicken, chicken breasts, precooked chicken breasts strips, or  rotisserie chicken. 
• Cavatappi pasta – any small to medium-sized pasta shapes such as penne, rotini, or bow-tie pasta will work. Use gluten-free pasta, if needed. 
• Fresh mozzarella – I use ciliengine or mozzarella pearls. However, you can also use a large ball of fresh mozzarella and cut it into bite-sized pieces
• Persian or mini cucumbers – may sub English cucumbers
• Grape or heirloom cherry tomatoes
• Red onion
• Pesto – I use this homemade basil pesto, but any store-bought pesto will taste great
• Parmesan cheese – for the best taste and texture, buy a block of parmesan and grate it yourself.

How To Make It

1. Combine the cooked chicken and pasta in a large bowl. 
2. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix gently to combine. 
3. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and additional parmesan, if desired. 
4. Serve immediately, or transfer the chicken pesto pasta salad to the fridge to cool. 

Change It Up

Here are some ways I like to customize this recipe:

• Swap the chicken with tuna or shrimp 
• Add in spinach or baby arugula for extra greens 
• Combine the pesto sauce with heavy cream or cream cheese to create a creamy chicken pesto pasta salad recipe  
• Include sun-dried tomatoes
• Replace the mozzarella and Parmesan with crumbled feta

Make It Dairy-Free

Omit the cheese and use dairy-free pesto to keep this pasta salad dairy-free.

Make It Gluten-Free

Use your favorite gluten-free pasta, cooking it just until al dente. Some of our favorites that we’ve tested in this salad are garbanzo-based cavatappi, gluten-free rotini, and the brown rice and quinoa fusilli from Trader Joe’s. 

How To Store

Store any leftover pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Give the mixture a good stir to redistribute the ingredients before serving. The pesto may darken a bit but it’s still safe to eat and plenty delicious.

The Perfect Side Or Main Dish

This pasta salad pairs well with a variety of main dishes such as grilled flank steak, grilled salmon kabobs, and grilled bacon burgers if you want to add a bit more protein to the meal.
However, it’s also great to serve as a complete meal on its own. If you’re looking for ways to bulk up the meal, try pairing it with sides like cornbread muffins and fruit salad.

The photos in this blog post were taken by Rachel Cook of Half Acre House.

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