This protein packed pasta salad with roast chicken, is ready in 15 minutes, delicious and super easy to make! It's a budget friendly recipe, that is perfect for lunch or dinner, and ideal for meal prep. Gluten-free & dairy-free.
Pasta salads take me back to my teen’s summers back in Mallorca island. I would always pack a pasta salad for lunch, for those never-ending summer days.
They’re such a great meal, easy to put together and super nourishing. For more pasta salad ideas, you might also want to check this Mediterranean chicken pasta salad or this quick and easy vegan pasta salad.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This pasta salad is made with red lentils pasta. Red lentils have a high protein content, increasing the protein amount of the dish.
- Red lentil pasta (or GF pasta of choice)
- Roast chicken breast chopped
- Spring onion sliced
- Pear sliced
- Mixed green leaves
- Crushed walnuts
- Raisins
- DF goat style cheese cut in chunks
Dressing
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make protein packed pasta salad
1 - Boil the pasta as per packet instructions. Drain well and rinse with cold water to cool it down. If time allows, let the pasta cool completely before putting the salad together.
2 - Prepare the dressing, combining all the ingredients in a small glass or jar.
3 - Plate the salad: add the mixed leaves, pasta, chicken, pear, walnuts, raisins and spring onions. Pour the dressing and mix well to combine. Add the goat cheese last, so it doesn’t fall apart.
Hint: you could also cook a chicken breast instead of using roast chicken. I love using roast chicken because it makes the cooking process extra quick (and less stuff to clean up!).
Substitutions
- Grilled chicken breast - instead of roast chicken
- Any dark leafy greens - like spinach or rocket, instead of mixed leaves.
- Apple - instead of pear
- Balsamic vinegar - instead of apple cider vinegar
Why you will love this protein packed pasta salad
- Super quick & easy to prepare. Ready in 15 minutes!
- Perfect for meal-prep
- Great combination of flavours and textures, with sweet raisins and crunchy walnuts
- Healthy, gluten-free and dairy-free.
- Budget-friendly
How long does pasta salad last in the fridge
This salad can last up to 3 days in the fridge. Store in an airtight container.
I highly recommend not adding the dressing until before you eat it, if you’re preparing it for meal-prep. This will avoid the leafy greens getting soggy.
FAQ
Chicken is a great protein source for pasta salad. Also pulses like lentils, chickpeas and beans.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
PROTEIN PACKED PASTA SALAD
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Australian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This protein packed pasta salad with roast chicken, is ready in 15 minutes, delicious and super easy to make! It's a budget-friendly recipe that is perfect for lunch or dinner, and ideal for meal prep. Gluten-free & dairy-free.
Ingredients
1 ⅓ cups of red lentils pasta spirals
2 cups of mixed leaves
1 ⅓ cup of roast chicken chopped
½ pear sliced
1 spring onion sliced
½ cup of walnuts crushed
2 tbsp of raisins
2 chunks of DF goat cheese cut in small pieces
Dressing
4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp of dijon mustard
Instructions
- Boil the pasta as per packet instructions. Drain well and rinse with cold water to cool it down. If time allows, let the pasta cool completely before putting the salad together.
- Prepare the dressing, combining all the ingredients in a small glass or jar.
- Plate the salad: add the mixed leaves, pasta, chicken, pear, walnuts, raisins and spring onions. Pour the dressing and mix well to combine. Add the goat cheese last, so it doesn’t fall apart.
Notes
You could also grill a chicken breast instead of using roast chicken. I love using roast chicken because it makes the cooking process extra quick (and less stuff to clean up!).
This salad can last up to 3 days in the fridge. Store in an airtight container.
I highly recommend not adding the dressing until before you eat it, if you’re preparing it for meal-prep. This will avoid the leafy greens getting soggy.
Keywords: protein packed pasta salad, red lentils pasta salad, chicken pasta salad, high protein pasta salad, easy pasta salad
Joseba
What a good idea! Simple and healthy.
★★★★★
Marta
Delicious Alix, and very fresh for summer.
★★★★★