{Summer Pasta Salad with Chicken, Veggies and Feta}

There are just some foods that scream summer.  Watermelon, Strawberry Shortcake (recipe coming soon), turkey burgers on the grill and my favorite, pasta salad!  I find that even though I love a good pasta salad, it is one of those dishes that I rarely make!  

In fact I generally only make pasta salad when I need a delicious dish to pass at a pot luck or family get together!  Crazy right, considering its one of my favorite summer foods!  Anyways, I have found that pasta salad not only makes a delicious week night meal (and its super easy and quick), it makes a great easy and portable lunch!  I have mentioned before that I am a brown bag lunch person, so I am always looking for new and exciting ways to jazz up my lunch box!  Whip up a big batch of this delicious pasta salad for dinner Monday night and eat the leftovers the rest of the week for lunch!  Hello easy, hello healthy and hello convenient!! 

I love this pasta salad because it features fresh veggies, whole wheat pasta and a delicious tangy dressing!  I also love the big hunks of feta cheese scattered throughout!  This pasta salad makes a great light main meal with the grilled chicken, feel free to leave out to make this pasta salad vegetarian friendly!  

Summer Pasta Salad with Chicken, Veggies and Feta

Brunch N'Cupcakes 

Serves 4-6 

Ingredients 

12 oz Whole Wheat Penne Pasta (cooked according to package directions) 

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Cup Grape Tomatoes Chopped 

3/4 Cup Cucumber Chopped 

1/2 Green Pepper Chopped 

1/4 Cup Fresh Dill Chopped

1/3 Cup Feta Cheese

Dressing:

3 Garlic Cloves Minced

2 Teaspoons Course Black Pepper 

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil 

1 1/2 Tablespoon Course Mustard 

2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar 

1/2 Tablespoon Honey 

Directions: 

1- Lightly salt and pepper chicken breast.  Heat grill (I used a George Forman) and grill chicken until cooked through.  Cut chicken into 1 inch chunks and set aside. 

2- In a large bowl combine chopped veggies, dill, chicken and noodles.  Toss lightly to combine, set aside. 

3- In a smaller bowl whisk together dressing ingredients.  Pour dressing over salad and toss lightly until dressing is evenly distributed.  Top pasta salad with feta and serve immediately. 

Enjoy!