Chicken-Spinach Pasta Salad Recipe

Be the first to write a review

Rate recipe

Hot summer nights call for cool salads such as this. I created the recipe by accident one day when tossing together whatever ingredients I had on hand.

This recipe is:

Quick

[X]

Rate Chicken-Spinach Pasta Salad Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

Chicken-Spinach Pasta Salad Recipe

Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

Yield: 6-8 Servings

10 10 20

Ingredients

1-3/4 cups uncooked small pasta shells
4 cups baby spinach
2-1/2 cups julienned cooked chicken
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup pine nuts
DRESSING:
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced chives
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Dash each garlic powder and cayenne pepper

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse in cold water and drain well. In a large bowl, gently toss the pasta, spinach, chicken, blue cheese and pine nuts. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Originally published as Chicken-Spinach Pasta Salad in Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook Annual 2004, p218

Pine Nuts

Also know as pignolia or pinon, the pine nut is the small seed from one of several pine tree varieties. They are small elongated ivory-colored nuts measuring about 3/8 inch long and having a soft texture and a buttery flavor. Frequently used in Italian dishes and sauces such as pesto, pine nuts are often toasted to enhance their flavor.