Here’s a high protein Pesto Pasta Salad that’s easy to prep and bursting with flavor! Made with fresh basil, sweet tomatoes and protein pasta, it’s a delicious option for a crowd or your weekly rotation.
Increasing the amount of high quality protein in your diet can support everything from appetite and weight regulation to healthy aging and athletic performance (1). And there are some great bean-based pastas on the market these days (like this one from The Only Bean) that increase the protein in a meal while adding a wholesome carbohydrate source of fiber.
Beans are an excellent source of complex carbs and are high in fiber, giving them a stabilizing effect on your blood sugar and making them a sustained source of long-lasting energy (2).
This salad is so simple and filling! Make it vegetarian or with chicken based on your eating preferences. Pasta goals achieved!
Recipe
Yield: 6 servings
You will need: large pot, strainer, large bowl, food processor, measuring cups and spoons, mixing spoon
Key: T=Tablespoon; tsp=teaspoon
Ingredients:
- 1 lb protein pasta (made from chickpeas, lentils or edamame; protein amounts vary)
- 16 oz baked chicken, cut into 1” cubes
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
For the Pesto:
- 2 cups packed basil leaves, plus extra for serving
- 1 cup spinach leaves
- 2 T walnuts
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 2 T lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- water, as needed
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake the chicken breasts until fully cooked. Once cooled, cut into 1” cubes.
- While chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil. Once water is boiling, add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain the pasta and rinse in cold water to cool. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Make pesto: Pulse basil and spinach in a food processor with walnuts and garlic until chopped and combined to an even consistency. Add salt and lemon juice and pulse in to mix. With food processor running, gradually drizzle in oil until everything is well blended, and an even consistency is formed. Scrape the sides of the food processor during this process as needed to ensure everything gets mixed in.
- Drizzle pesto over the pasta, and toss together. Add in chicken and cherry tomatoes and mix well.
Nutrition Facts
I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know in the comments below if you make it and how it turns out.
Want tasty recipes that support your workouts all planned out?
Check out my 30 Day Challenge Meal Plan!
- Phillips, Stuart M. et al. “Protein “requirements” beyond the RDA: implications for optimizing health.” Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. May 2016. Web. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26960445/
- Winham, Donna M. et al. “Glycemic Response to Black Beans and Chickpeas as Part of a Rice Meal: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial”. Nutrients. Oct 2017. Web. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691712/
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