Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad

Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad

from bhg.com
Dinner
80 min
6 servings
754 kcal / serving

The popular Marry Me Chicken dish has inspired a summer-friendly variation recipe called Marry Me Chicken Pasta Salad, featuring grilled chicken, pasta, asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes, and a creamy tomato basil dressing, perfect for potlucks and parties.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp.oil from sun-dried tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp.double concentrated tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp.balsamic vinegar
  • ½ c.loosely packed fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 4 clovesgarlic, grated
  • ½ tsp.paprika
  • ¼ tsp.crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tspsalt
  • ¼ tsp.pepper
  • 1 lb.boneless, skinless chicken breast cutlets
  • 1pkg refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini (or 2, 10 oz. pkgs)
  • 1 lb.asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1” pieces
  • 1 c.cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ c.oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, cut into bite sized pieces
  • basil leaves, crushed red pepper flakes and rated parmesan cheese (for garnish)
  • crushed red pepper flakes
  • grated parmesan cheese (for garnish)
  • ½ cupmayonnaise
  • ½ cupsour cream
  • ½ cupwhipping cream, plus additional as needed
  • ⅓ cupgrated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbspdouble concentrated tomato paste
  • 1 tbspbalsamic vinegar
  • 2 clovesgarlic, grated
  • ¼ cuploosely packed fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • ¼ tspcrushed red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsppaprika
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Steps to make it

  1. 1

    Add Ingredients to Jar Combine the first 9 ingredients (through salt & pepper) in a pint jar with a lid. Shake until completely mixed.

  2. 2

    Marinate Chicken Place chicken in a 1-gal resealable bag. Pour marinade over chicken, seal bag, and turn bag over a few times to coat chicken. Place the bag in a shallow baking dish and chill to marinate for up to 1 hour.

  3. 3

    Grill Chicken Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Grill chicken over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes (or until cooked through to 165°F). Turn halfway through grilling. Remove chicken from grill and allow to rest at room temperature until cool enough to handle (about 15 minutes).

  4. 4

    Cut Chicken Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Chill until ready to make salad.

  5. 5

    Cook Pasta Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add asparagus. Drain and rinse pasta mixture with cold water until pasta is cool to the touch. Transfer to a large bowl.

  6. 6

    Add Veggies Add sun-dried tomatoes, tomatoes, and Creamy Tomato Basil Dressing dressing to the cooled pasta mixture.

  7. 7

    Add Chicken Stir in cooked and chilled chicken. Garnish with basil leaves, crushed red pepper, and additional grated Parmesan. Serve immediately at room temperature.

Creamy tomato basil dressing

  1. 1

    Mix Ingredients In a medium bowl, whisk together the first 10 ingredients (through paprika), until well combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill until ready to assemble salad. (The dressing will thicken as it chills, add additional cream, as needed.) Makes 1 3/4 cups.