Chicken Tomato And Pasta Salad With Basil Vinaigrette Food

PASTA SALAD WITH BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
• Spread the pine nuts in an even layer on a small baking sheet. Transfer to the oven, and toast until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, toasted pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes olives, Cheddar, chickpeas, cucumbers, and basil vinaigrette. Toss well. Serve cold.
• Add the vinegar, honey, mustard, shallots, basil and some salt and pepper to a blender. Blend until well combined. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil; blend until fully combined.

CREAMY TOMATO-BASIL PASTA WITH CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp. dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cover. Cook 5 to 6 min. on each side or until done (165 degrees F). Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm. Carefully wipe out skillet with paper towel.
• Add remaining dressing, broth and seasonings to skillet; cook 3 to 4 min. or until heated through. Add Neufchatel; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until Neufchatel is melted. Stir in tomatoes; cook 3 min.
• Drain pasta. Add to ingredients in skillet with Parmesan and basil; mix well. Serve topped with chicken.

CHICKEN, BASIL AND TOMATO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, adding green beans the last 5 minutes of cooking; drain. Rinse with cold water; drain again.
• Mix together the oil, vinegar, salt, garlic, mustard and pepper with a whisk until thoroughly combined.
• In a very large bowl toss together the pasta mixture, chicken cubes (if using), dressing, tomatoes, shredded cheese and olives. Cover and chill for 4-24 hours. Add basil and toss gently before serving. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese, if desired.

GRILLED CHICKEN, TOMATOES, MOZZARELLA & BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the basil vinaigrette - Place the shallots and vinegar in a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. Continue whisking and slowly add the olive oil and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (This can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)
• For the grilled chicken - Spray the grill grate with nonstick cooking spray and then preheat the grill to medium-high. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken on both sides until it is cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the breasts. (The chicken can be grilled in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.)
• For the green salad - Slice the chicken breasts into strips and place them in a mixing bowl. Add the tomatoes, mozzarella and half of the basil vinaigrette. Place the lettuce in a separate salad bowl and toss it with the remaining vinaigrette. Arrange the chicken, tomatoes and mozzarella mixture on top of the lettuce and serve.