Chicken and Spinach Pasta Salad

Name: Chicken and Spinach Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 8 ounces uncooked whole wheat rotini; 1/2 cup hummus; 3 tablespoons Italian salad dressing; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 4 cups fresh baby spinach; 1 cup cubed cooked chicken breast; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained; 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

My family loves pasta salads, but usually they have too much mayonnaise or oily dressing. Using hummus gives this dish a great taste and texture, while also increasing its nutritional profile. Adding chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken works well), makes this pasta salad a complete meal. —Jenny Lynch, Rock Island, Illinois

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked whole wheat rotini
1/2 cup hummus
3 tablespoons Italian salad dressing
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
4 cups fresh baby spinach
1 cup cubed cooked chicken breast
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 can (2-1/4 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Combine hummus, salad dressing, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add pasta; toss to coat. Stir in spinach, chicken, tomatoes and olives. Sprinkle with feta. Serve immediately.

Test Kitchen tips

It's OK to chill the salad before serving, but the pasta will absorb some of the dressing. If needed, add more right before serving.

Experiment with different flavors of hummus like roasted red pepper or spicy hummus for a little kick.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/2 cups: 263 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 7g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat.

Originally published as Chicken and Hummus Pasta Salad in Simple & Delicious August/September 2018