Description
A delicious Smoky Chicken, Peppers, and Spinach Pasta Salad that combines vibrant flavors with hearty ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions (I used vegetable rotini)
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sauce + 1 tablespoon for cooking chicken
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional and to taste
- about 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces and seasoned with salt and pepper
- 1 ½ to 2 cups 2 heaping handfuls fresh spinach leaves, sliced thinly (chiffonade)
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and diced small
- 1 large orange bell pepper, seeded and diced small
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, place in a large bowl, and set aside.
- To a medium bowl or large measuring cup, add the honey, vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and stir to combine; set sauce aside.
- To a large skillet, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, add chicken and season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, flipping intermittently so all sides cook evenly. Chicken should be about 90% cooked through.
- Carefully add the sauce, allow sauce to bubble at a medium-fast boil for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until sauce has reduced and chicken is cooked through. Stir sauce and flip chicken intermittently.
- Add the spinach, peppers, chicken and all the sauce to the bowl of pasta and stir well to combine. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- This dish can be served warm or cold. Will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 4 days. Serve cold or reheat gently if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, increase cayenne pepper.
- This recipe can easily be adjusted to include other vegetables.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken for better texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg