Name: Crispy Pasta Protein Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10 ounces gluten free chickpea pasta (Banza); 1.5 tablespoons olive or avocado oil; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoons dairy free parmesan (Follow Your Heart); cooking oil spray; 5 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (about 1.5 pounds); 1 medium cucumber, diced; 2 Roma tomatoes, diced; 1 large bell pepper, diced; ¼ large yellow onion, diced; 8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped; ½ cup Tessemae’s Organic Lemon Garlic Dressing; optional: diced avocado; optional: crumbled bacon; garlic salt to taste; ¼ cup olive oil (for homemade dressing); 2 tablespoons lemon juice (for homemade dressing); 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (for homemade dressing); 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (for homemade dressing); 1-2 cloves minced garlic (for homemade dressing); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (for homemade dressing); salt and pepper to taste (for homemade dressing); a tiny drizzle of honey (for homemade dressing)

Ingredients

Scale

10 ounces gluten free chickpea pasta (Banza)

1.5 tablespoons olive or avocado oil

1 teaspoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons dairy free parmesan (Follow Your Heart)

cooking oil spray

5 cups chopped rotisserie chicken (about 1.5 pounds)

1 medium cucumber, diced

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1 large bell pepper, diced

¼ large yellow onion, diced

8 large fresh basil leaves, chopped

½ cup Tessemae’s Organic Lemon Garlic Dressing

optional: diced avocado

optional: crumbled bacon

garlic salt to taste

¼ cup olive oil (for homemade dressing)

2 tablespoons lemon juice (for homemade dressing)

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (for homemade dressing)

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (for homemade dressing)

1–2 cloves minced garlic (for homemade dressing)

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (for homemade dressing)

salt and pepper to taste (for homemade dressing)

a tiny drizzle of honey (for homemade dressing)

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Instructions

1-Cook the pasta: Boil chickpea pasta until al dente, drain well, then toss with 1.5 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 2 tbsp dairy-free parmesan.

2-Crisp the pasta: Spread pasta in a single layer on a baking sheet, spray with oil, and cook at 400°F in an air fryer for 25-30 minutes or oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes and respraying with oil.

3-Prep the vegetables and protein: While pasta crisps, dice cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, and onion; chop basil; shred rotisserie chicken into bite-size pieces.

4-Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine crispy pasta, chicken, vegetables, basil, remaining parmesan, and Lemon Garlic dressing; toss gently, season with garlic salt, and top with crumbled bacon if using. Add avocado just before serving.

Last Step:

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Notes

🥑 Keep crispy pasta and dressing separate from wet vegetables until serving to preserve maximum crunch.
🕒 Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; add avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
🔥 To restore crispiness, reheat leftover pasta in a skillet or air fryer before reassembling the salad.

Author: Ruby Bennett
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Salad, Main Course
Method: Air Fryer, Oven, Stovetop
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Nut Free, High Protein

Nutrition

Serving Size: about 2 cups
Calories: 330
Sugar: 3g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 25g
Fiber: 6g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 60mg