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Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Ingredients
  

  • - 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • - 2 tablespoons olive oil for the sauce
  • - 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking chicken
  • - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • - 2 tablespoons honey
  • - 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • - 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • - 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • - 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • - 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • - 1 cup Roma tomatoes diced
  • - 1 cup fresh basil leaves torn
  • - 1 cup cucumber diced
  • - 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Start by cooking the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Once it's perfectly al dente, drain it and set aside in a large mixing bowl.
  • Next, let’s whip up that delicious sauce! In a medium bowl, mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Give it a good whisk until everything is nicely combined.
  • Now, grab a skillet and heat up the tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then add them to the skillet. Cook until they're nearly done, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Now, pour in the sauce and let it simmer, bubbling away until the chicken is cooked through and reaches a juicy perfection.
  • Once your chicken is ready, chop it into bite-sized pieces and toss it in with the pasta. Add in the diced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, cucumber, and the grated Parmesan cheese. Gently toss everything together until it’s well mixed.
  • Before serving, taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. And there you have it: a colorful and scrumptious Italian Chicken Pasta Salad that’s sure to impress! Enjoy!