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Lemon Basil Pasta Salad is a simplistic, flavor bomb chilled salad that everyone will love over the summer. It’s light, made with fresh ingredients like parmesan, basil and lemon zest in every bite. This is a favorite picnic salad, it keeps well for meal prepping and it’s an unexpected crowd pleaser. The heavy seasoned grilled chicken makes it the perfect meal.
What Makes This Lemon Basil Pasta So Good
It’s beyond fresh. The fresh lemon, the zest and the abundant basil and spinach just really pair well with a chilled pasta salad. It’s different than your average mayo based picnic salad and will have you wanting seconds without felling overly indulgent.
Seasonality wise, basil is best during the spring and summer so naturally that’s when I am craving and making this dish for my friends and family.
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Pasta Shape. Choose a smaller size, bite sized shape like elbows, shellbows or bowtie.
- Spinach. This adds more color throughout the dish without having the basil overpower everything. It’s half basil/half spinach.
- Parmesan. The cheese of choice here! Nutty, salty, strong and perfect. Grated will be best.
- Fresh Lemons are best. We use lots of the zest and the fresh squeeze from the lemon adds the bright cistrusy flavor in this pasta salad.
- Dijon. This is the base of the dressing, mixed with the lemon. You can also do honey mustard if you would prefer.
Steps To Make Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
Ready to throw this easy recipe together? Let me walk you through the recipe. For your convenience, there is a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Step One. Start with seasoning and cooking the chicken breasts. You can grill them on medium heat for about 7-9 minutes on each side or on a skillet pan over the stovetop. Be sure to turn them every few minutes and check the internal temp (165º) to ensure they are cooked through. Let them rest while you make the salad.
- Step Two. Mix up the dressing, set aside until ready to toss and serve.
- Step Three. In a large bowl add the cooked pasta, spinach, basil, parmesan and sliced chicken. Drizzle the dressing over the top with extra lemon zest, toss well to ensure even coating and serve!
Lemon Basil Pasta Tips
- Make it ahead of time. Just keep that dressing to the side until you are ready to serve, this avoids the pasta soaking it all up and making it dry.
- Give it extra garnish. Feel free to add more parmesan and lemon zest to the top for a more aesthetic look.
- If you want to salad to have more dressing, feel free to double up on the mix.
A few other summer favorites
Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
Equipment
- grill or grill pan or skillet
- large serving bowl
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken breast, boneless & skinless
- 1 tsp each garlic powder, oregano, onion powder
- ½ tsp each salt, pepper, smoked paprika
Lemon Basil Pasta Salad
- 3 cups Shellbows or Bowtie Pasta, cooked
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil, thinly sliced
- 1 cup parmesan, plus more for garnish
- 2 Tbsp lemon zest, more for garnish, use the lemons that will be used in the dressing below
Lemon Dressing
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup lemon juice, about 3 lemons
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp each salt & pepper
Instructions
- Make The Chicken. Start with seasoning and cooking the chicken breasts. You can grill them on medium heat for about 7-9 minutes on each side or on a skillet pan over the stovetop. Be sure to turn them every few minutes and check the internal temp (165º) to ensure they are cooked through. Let them rest while you make the salad. **Make pasta while chicken cooks. Let it cool before using.
- Mix The Dressing. In a small bowl add lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, oil, dijon, vinegar. Whisk well, set aside until ready to toss and serve.
- Combine Everything. In a large serving bowl add the cooked, cooled, pasta, spinach, basil, parmesan and cubed chicken. Drizzle the dressing over the top with lemon zest, toss well to ensure even coating and serve! You can enjoy this salad at room temperature or chilled.
Notes
- Make it ahead of time. Just keep that dressing to the side until you are ready to serve, this avoids the pasta soaking it all up and making it dry.
- Give it extra garnish. Feel free to add more parmesan and lemon zest to the top for a more aesthetic look.
- Make sure the pasta is cooled before tossing the recipe together. Otherwise the parm will clump and melt and the basil will wilt.
- If you want to salad to have more dressing, feel free to double up on the mix.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
