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Pesto Bean, Rotini & Chicken Toss

Use a can of mixed bean salad as a time saver to create this fresh tasting chicken toss. The marinated mixed beans, containing chickpeas, kidney beans and Romano beans, are in a zippy marinade complete with vinaigrette, garlic and onion. Serve as a light lunch or as a supper side salad. Any leftovers pack well the next day for your lunch and are delicious in wraps.
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 25 min

Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast(s)
10 oz whole wheat rotini
¼ cup pesto, prepared
1 tbsp pesto, prepared
3 tbsp Romano cheese, grated
1 tbsp lemon juice, fresh
½ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp hot red chili pepper, fresh, minced (optional)
19 fl oz marinated mix bean salad, ready-to-serve, canned
4 cups baby spinach
1 yellow pepper(s), medium, sliced
4 plum tomatoes, medium, chopped
1 cup green onion(s), sliced

Food Safety

Before you start, wash all surfaces and your hands with soap and warm water, and remember to wash your hands, utensils and cutting boards after they touch raw meat or eggs. Avoid cross-contamination by using a different cutting board for your meat and other ingredients. Make sure you’re cooking to safe temperatures and chilling any leftovers within two hours. For more food safety tips, visit our Food Safety at Home Section.

Steps

  1. Bring 4 quarts (4 L) of water to a boil in a large pasta pot. Add the boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cover, reduce heat to medium and poach for 10 minutes. Uncover and stir pasta into the same pot. Do not remove the chicken. Cook rotini according to package directions until al dente. Remove chicken from pot, set aside and allow to cool. Drain pasta. Cut cooled chicken into bite-size pieces or strips and set aside.

  2. Toss hot pasta and chicken with the pesto, Romano cheese, lemon juice, black pepper and minced hot pepper in a large salad bowl.

  3. Add the mixed bean salad with liquid, baby spinach, yellow pepper, tomato and green onions to the salad bowl, toss again and serve.

Nutrition Info

Per 345 g serving Amount
Calories440
Protein34 g
Fat10 g
Saturated Fat3 g
Carbohydrate53 g
Fibre13 g
Sugar6 g
Cholesterol50 mg
Sodium330 mg
Per 345 g serving % Daily Value
Potassium12
Calcium20
Iron35
Vitamin A25
Vitamin C130
Vitamin B629
Vitamin B1217
Folate9
Zinc10