This simple salad is a recipe that you can whip up ahead of time and have waiting for you when you roll in at the end of the day. (Just keep the lettuce and pesto dressing separate from the pasta mixture. Then toss and serve together when you are ready for meal time.)

Healthy Pesto & Chicken Salad

Pesto

• 2 cups basil leaves
• 1 cup parsley leaves
• 6 tablespoons chopped walnuts (toasted)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves

Combine all of the pesto ingredients in a food processor; pulse 5-6 times or until finely minced. Set aside.

Pasta

• 4 cups cubed cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast
• 3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
• 2 cups quartered cherry tomatoes
• 4 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives
• 8-12 curly leaf lettuce leaves

Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and rinse with cold water.

Combine (cooled) pasta, chicken, tomatoes, and olives in a large bowl. Add pesto to pasta mixture, tossing gently to coat.

Then place 1-2 lettuce leaves on each plate and top each serving with pasta mixture.

Toss this delicious salad on the table and you can say; “Dinner is done!”

Morgan is the energetic and motivated, but also realistic girl, behind Morganize with Me. She specializes in Personal Organizing and Personal Training. Her mission is to share tried and true techniques that she hopes will encourage her readers and clients as they focus on their health and homes. She believes in simplifying, prioritizing, and measuring progress one day at a time.