Welcome to another 30 minute meal! This super simple spin on a pasta salad is SO flavorful. The pesto really packs a punch here and brings freshness to this pasta. Serve it cold or room temperature so it's ready to go as soon as your done mixing the ingredients!
I chose to top this with a chicken sausage/kale mixture. My absolute favorite chicken sausage is the Never Any Chicken Sausage from Aldi. Specifically in this recipe I used the Mild Italian. It turns a side dish into a complete meal! So feel free to try this pesto pasta salad on its own OR add in the kale and sausage for a punch of protein!
Interested in making your own chicken sausage? If you are looking to go a step further and make your OWN, I recommend this recipe for making your own chicken sausage.
Along with the chicken sausage another product I'm LOVING lately is the Red Lentil Pasta by Tolerant. I've searched through many, many pasta alternatives. Lentils are an incredible source of plant based protein and its the ONLY ingredient in this pasta. The texture is on point and the flavor is great. So I highly recommend trying this pasta.
This 30 minute meal is a great weeknight dinner or meal prep idea. The longer this sits in the fridge the more flavor it's gioing to take on. So make once and eat it for a few days! So let's make it!
Ingredients
- 1 pack Never Any Italian Chicken Sausage from ALDI
- 8 oz Tolerant Red Lentil Pasta
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
- 1/2 cup roasted corn
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2 cups chopped kale
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tablespoons pesto
- 3 tablespoons lite Italian dressing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions
- In a small bowl mix the pesto and italian dressing
- Once pasta is cooked, strain it and stir in the pesto/italian dressing mixture
- add in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup peas, 1/2 cup roasted corn and stir to combine.
- Slice the italian sausage into pieces and cook in a skillet over medium-high heat until warmed through.
- Add in 2 cups of chopped kale until wilted.
- Top the pasta salad with the chicken and kale. Serve!
Parmesan Pesto Pasta with Chicken Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 pack Never Any Italian Chicken Sausage from ALDI
- 8 oz Tolerant Red Lentil Pasta
- 1/4 cup shredded parmesan
- 1/2 cup roasted corn
- 1/2 cup peas
- 2 cups chopped kale
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3 tablespoons pesto
- 3 tablespoons lite Italian dressing
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the package directions
- In a small bowl mix the pesto and italian dressing
- Once pasta is cooked, strain it and stir in the pesto/italian dressing mixture
- add in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup peas, 1/2 cup roasted corn and stir to combine.
- Slice the italian sausage into pieces and cook in a skillet over medium-high heat until warmed through.
- Add in 2 cups of chopped kale until wilted.
- Top the pasta salad with the chicken and kale. Serve!
