Grilled Chicken BLT Pasta Salad

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 oz Food Club Rotini Pasta
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 6 slices Food Club Thick-Cut or Peppered Bacon
• 1 tablespoon Food Club Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup Food Club Mayonnaise
• Half lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon Food Club Dijon Mustard
• 1 tablespoon Food Club Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Food Club Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Food Club Ground Pepper
• 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 cups fresh spinach

Directions

1. Cook pasta in a pot of generously salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente.
2. Drain pasta water and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and stir to coat, to prevent pasta from sticking together. Set pasta aside to cool.
3. Meanwhile, preheat grill to medium high heat and cook chicken until completely cooked through, and an instant thermometer inserted into the thickest part reads 165°F, about 5-6 minutes per side. Set aside to cool, then chop into 1-inch cubes.
4. Cook bacon in a foil-lined pan on the grill, or on the stovetop, until crispy, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate to drain, then roughly chop.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, sugar, and salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
6. Toss the pasta with the dressing, then add the chicken, bacon, and cherry tomatoes. Add spinach right before serving.

Tips:

• The pasta salad can be served right away, or can be made up to 4 hours in advance.
• To keep the lettuce fresh and crisp, lettuce should only be added right before serving.