Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken, Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes Recipe
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Creamy Pesto Pasta Salad with Chicken, Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

By: USA WEEKEND columnist Pam Anderson 
"A tangy buttermilk dressing ties together this pasta salad studded with asparagus, chicken, artichokes, and cherry tomatoes!"

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 4.6 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (50)

 

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Original Recipe Yield 8 servings
 

Ingredients

  • Creamy Buttermilk Dressing:
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
  •  
  • Pasta Salad:
  • 2 tablespoons salt
  • 1 pound bow tie (farfalle) pasta
  • 8 ounces trimmed asparagus, cut into 1-inch lengths
  • 1 pound cooked chicken breast strips, pulled into bite-size pieces
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved and lightly salted
  • 1 (14 ounce) can whole artichoke hearts, drained, cut into sixths
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted in a small skillet over low heat until golden
  • 1/4 cup pesto (homemade or refrigerated prepared variety)

Directions

  1. Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl; keep chilled until ready to toss with salad. (Store in clean jar with lid.)
  2. Bring 1 gallon of water and 2 Tbs. of salt to boil in a large soup kettle. Add pasta and, using package times as a guide, boil, stirring frequently and adding asparagus the last 1 minute, until just tender. Drain thoroughly (do not rinse) and dump onto a large, lipped cookie sheet. Set aside to cool while preparing remaining salad ingredients.
  3. Place all salad ingredients (except buttermilk dressing) in a large bowl or transfer to a gallon-size zippered bag. (Can be covered and refrigerated several hours at this point.) When ready to serve, add dressing; toss to coat and serve.

Footnotes

  • Copyright 2005 USA WEEKEND and columnist Pam Anderson. All rights reserved.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 547 | Total Fat: 26.4g | Cholesterol: 61mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

 view all reviews »  

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 17, 2006 by NoCarnations   view full review
I was surprised by the overpowering smell of the vinegar in the sauce. I put the sauce on and...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 9, 2006 by Donna E.   view full review
This is my new favorite pasta salad. I even left out the chicken because I was serving to a...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 3, 2006 by Kathyf   view full review
I found the need to add more dressing and pesto after it had had time to marinate. I would...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 22, 2008 by Joyce   view full review
This is a fabulous salad! I made this for a girls weekend. I kept the pasta seperate from...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 21, 2009 by KristieB   view full review
Wonderful pasta salad! I made a batch and a half of dressing. I mixed the full recipe of...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 11, 2009 by susan   view full review
Really yummy flavors. I did roast the asparagus instead of boiling. Keeping the dressing...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 15, 2010 by JESSERS11581   view full review
Ridiculously good. I mixed everything together and let it all marinate in the fridge...
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Sep. 8, 2010 by SAHMCOOK   view full review
I never give a bad review but I just did not care for this. I should have gone with my...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Jun. 15, 2009 by KappyCT   view full review
Fantastic! Don't change a thing!! (although the chicken is not important in this one--I too...
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 4.6 star rating.
Reviewed on Aug. 16, 2010 by Eepie   view full review
I added a wider variety of vegetables and left everything else the same. I thought it was...

 

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