Weeknight Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
A quick and delicious grilled chicken pasta salad with vibrant veggies and tangy balsamic vinaigrette, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 red bell peppers, stemmed and halved
- 4 green onions
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- ¾ lb whole grain penne pasta
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp lemon zest and 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ½ cup basil leaves, roughly torn
- Grated parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Marinate chicken in balsamic vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for at least 20 minutes.
- Grill the Chicken: Preheat grill and cook chicken for 6-7 minutes per side until done.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water, add pasta, cook until al dente, then rinse with cold water.
- Prepare the Vegetables: Slice red bell peppers and green onions.
- Make the Balsamic Vinaigrette: Combine remaining balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, olive oil, and seasonings in a jar; shake well.
- Combine Everything: In a bowl, mix pasta, chicken, veggies, parsley, and basil with vinaigrette.
- Plate and Serve: Serve with grated Parmesan on top.
Notes
Serve with crusty bread or a fresh side salad. This salad can be made ahead for convenience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Weeknight Dinner, Healthy Meal