Description
A vibrant and satisfying High Protein Pasta Salad featuring fusilli pasta, diced cooked chicken, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful homemade dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound dry fusilli pasta
- 4 cups diced cooked chicken
- 2 cups diced bell peppers
- 2 cups quartered cucumbers
- 2 cups corn
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup halved black olives
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and optionally add a teaspoon of salt for flavor. Cook the fusilli pasta al dente, about 3 minutes less than the package recommends, to ensure it holds its shape when mixed with the dressing.
- While the pasta cooks, dice the bell peppers, quarter the cucumbers, halve the cherry tomatoes, and slice the black olives to ready them for the salad.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, dried basil, parsley, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Drain the cooked pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and bring it to room temperature, preventing it from becoming mushy.
- Transfer the cooled pasta to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked chicken, chopped vegetables, corn, and black olives.
- Pour the cottage cheese and prepared dressing over the salad ingredients, then gently toss to evenly coat everything without breaking the pasta or vegetables.
- Chill the salad briefly if desired, then serve cold as a nutritious and protein-rich meal or side dish.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
- Customize with your favorite vegetables.
- Adjust the dressing ingredients to suit your taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing and Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg