The Easy Green Goddess Pasta Salad I’ve Been Grabbing All Week
Steffani Baty
7/28/20263 min read
Last week, I had the privilege of meeting with a registered dietitian nutritionist, or RDN, to talk through some of my nutrition questions. As someone who loves health and fitness, I still walked away realizing there were small changes I could make to better fuel my body.
As moms, we are constantly on the go. Between work, school drop-offs, sports, appointments, and everything in between, it is so easy to put our own nutritional needs on the back burner.
I am usually looking for something that is easy to prepare ahead of time and quick to grab when I am hungry. I want a meal that feels convenient, but I also want it to be filling and satisfying enough to help me get through a busy afternoon.
That is where this easy Green Goddess Pasta Salad came from.
It is creamy, fresh, colorful, and simple to throw together. I love that I can make a large batch at the beginning of the week and keep it in the refrigerator for an easy lunch, snack, or side dish.
The chicken and white beans add protein, while the beans, vegetables, and pasta make it hearty and satisfying. You can also easily adjust the ingredients depending on what you already have in your kitchen.
Green Goddess Chicken Pasta Salad
Makes approximately 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
12 ounces pasta
2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 to 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, diced, optional
1 bottle Trader Joe’s Green Goddess Salad Dressing
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and allow it to cool before assembling the salad.
Add the cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl.
Add the cooked chicken, cannellini beans, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and diced bell pepper.
Pour the Green Goddess dressing over the pasta salad. Start with about half of the bottle and add more as needed until everything is evenly coated.
Add the grated Parmesan cheese and gently toss everything together.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving, if possible. This gives the flavors time to come together.
Top with a little extra Parmesan cheese before serving.
Make It Your Own
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how flexible it is. You can leave out any vegetables you do not enjoy or add whatever you already have available.
Cucumber, spinach, arugula, broccoli, or roasted vegetables would all be delicious additions. You could also replace the chicken with turkey, shrimp, or another protein you enjoy.
For a vegetarian version, simply leave out the chicken and add an extra can of white beans.
Meal-Prep Tip
Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for approximately three to four days.
The pasta may absorb some of the dressing as it sits, so I like to keep a little extra dressing nearby to mix in before serving.
You can also divide the salad into individual containers after preparing it. That way, you have an easy lunch ready to grab before work, school drop-off, an appointment, or a busy afternoon.
A Little Reminder for Busy Moms
We spend so much time thinking about what everyone else needs. We pack lunches, make snacks, plan dinners, and make sure the people we love are cared for. Sometimes, preparing one simple meal for ourselves can be a small but meaningful form of self-care. This recipe is not complicated or fancy. It is simply an easy meal that has helped me feel a little more prepared during a busy week. Sometimes, that is exactly what we need!