Description
Delicious balsamic chicken tortellini salad delivers Mediterranean flavors with zesty complexity. Fresh ingredients and bold dressing create a satisfying meal packed with protein and tangy notes you’ll savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 package (9 oz / 255 g) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup baby spinach
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for cooking chicken if needed)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Tortellini Preparation: Boil tortellini in salted water until al dente, then promptly drain and rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking and clumping.
- Chicken Seasoning and Cooking: Season chicken with salt and black pepper, then sauté in olive oil over medium heat until golden and thoroughly cooked, approximately 6-8 minutes per side.
- Chicken Processing: Cool chicken completely, then slice or dice into uniform bite-sized pieces for optimal salad distribution.
- Salad Assembly: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled tortellini, prepared chicken, cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, red onion, and Parmesan cheese, creating a vibrant and textured base.
- Dressing and Flavor Enhancement: Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette over the salad, gently tossing to ensure even coating and harmonious flavor integration.
- Final Touches and Chilling: Adjust seasoning to taste, then refrigerate for 20-30 minutes to allow flavors to meld and ingredients to chill.
- Serving Presentation: Optionally garnish with fresh basil or parsley before serving, adding a final aromatic and visual flourish to the dish.
Notes
- Master Al Dente Technique: Cook tortellini precisely to avoid mushy texture, watching pot closely and testing pasta firmness every minute during boiling.
- Chicken Searing Secrets: Use high-quality olive oil and ensure pan is hot before adding chicken to achieve perfect golden-brown exterior without drying meat interior.
- Chill and Blend Flavors: Refrigeration allows balsamic vinaigrette to deeply penetrate ingredients, creating more complex and harmonious taste profile.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Easily substitute cheese tortellini with gluten-free or whole wheat options, swap chicken for grilled tofu, or use vegan Parmesan for plant-based version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg