Description
This Lemon Parmesan Chicken Pasta Salad tosses tender rotini, juicy chicken, and baby spinach in a bright lemon-garlic vinaigrette with plenty of parmesan. Make-ahead friendly and ready in about 40 minutes.
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded (about 1 lb; rotisserie works well)
3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan, divided
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Zest of 1 large lemon
3–4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Cook the rotini in well-salted boiling water until al dente, about 1 minute less than the package time. Drain, rinse briefly under cool water, and drain thoroughly.
2. Whisk the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a jar or small bowl until slightly creamy.
3. Chop the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces. If cooking from raw, cook to 165°F internal and rest before chopping.
4. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chicken, spinach, and 1/2 cup parmesan. Pour the dressing over and toss until evenly coated.
5. Chill 15-30 minutes. Taste and adjust lemon and salt, top with the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan, and serve cold.
Notes
Cool the pasta before dressing so it doesn’t absorb the vinaigrette; taste again after chilling since cold dulls lemon and salt.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3-4 days. Don’t leave at room temperature more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F).
Freezing: Not recommended — pasta and spinach lose texture and the dressing separates.
Serving: Served cold. Refresh leftovers with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.
Food safety: Cook chicken from raw to 165°F internal temperature per USDA guidance; keep the finished salad at 40°F or below.
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary according to brands, substitutions, and serving size.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 570mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 70mg