Gluten Free Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This Gluten Free Italian Chicken Pasta Salad will be your easy, go-to, make ahead dinner or lunch that lasts for days in the fridge. The only thing you have to prep is the chicken!
Author:
Recipe type: Pasta
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 1 cucumber, chopped
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2 cups diced mozzarella cheese, or 8-9 diced mozzarella cheese sticks
  • 2 cans sliced olives, drained
  • 2 large (3 small) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • salt
  • pepper
  • garlic powder
  • Italian seasoning
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 12 oz. box of Barilla brand gluten free penne pasta
  • 1½ cups Italian dressing
  • ¼-1/2 cup pasta water
Directions
  1. Heat skillet over medium heat with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Prepare chicken by trimming fat. While skillet is heating, generously season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Lightly season each side with garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Once skillet is hot enough that a drop of water sizzles, place chicken breasts in an even layer in skillet. Cook for 8-10 minutes on each side until outside is a crisp golden brown and chicken is no longer pink in middle. Remove chicken from heat and set aside to cool.
  2. While chicken is cooking, heat water in pot and cook pasta according to package directions.
  3. Prepare vegetables by peeling and dicing cucumber. Seed and dice yellow and orange bell peppers. Slice grape tomatoes in half and dice mozzarella or cheese sticks into bite sized pieces. Drain olives. Place all veggies and olives in a bowl and set aside, reserving cheese for later.
  4. As soon as pasta is done cooking, drain (reserving ½ cup pasta water if needed) and toss into bowl with veggies. Add Italian dressing and stir.
  5. Dice chicken into bite sized pieces and toss into pasta mixture. Stir to evenly coat. Add reserved pasta water if mixture is too dry.* Chill pasta salad for at least 6-8 hours. Stir in cheese before serving.
Notes
*Remember that pasta will absorb some of the liquid as it chills in the fridge.
Recipe by Breezy Bakes at https://www.breezybakesgf.com/gluten-free-italian-chicken-pasta-salad/