Chicken & Chickpea Pasta Salad

Chicken & Chickpea Pasta Salad ❤️Pasta just makes us feel good. It’s warm, filling, and reminds many of us of home. Plus, carbs naturally boost our mood, so a bowl of pasta literally brings comfort from the inside out. Why eat pasta out of chickpeas? Because we want to eat more pasta! A serving of chickpea pasta often has 2x to 3x more protein than regular wheat pasta, is gluten-free, and fiber-rich.  Compared to traditional pasta, chickpea pasta has a lower glycemic index, which leads to slower blood sugar spikes and is great for people with diabetes or insulin resistance.  Chickpeas are a powerful cancer-fighting food due to high content of fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which work together to protect the body at the cellular level. Chickpea pasta tastes slightly nutty or earthy compared to regular wheat pasta and tastes great in salads and soups.   

Chicken & Chickpea Pasta 

Chicken & Chickpea Pasta 

Ingredients:

6 ounces chickpea pasta (dry)

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cubed)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)

1 cucumber (quartered)

1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced)

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves (chopped)

Directions: 

1.  Cook pasta according to the package instructions. 

2.  Heat skillet over medium heat and add the oil.  Add the chicken and Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.  Cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until cooked through. 

3.  In a large bowl, combine the pasta, chicken with its juices, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and chopped basil.  Squeeze the juice the lemon over pasta and toss well to coat.  

Tips: For more flavor you can add garlic, goat cheese, or balsamic vinegar.