Description

A high-protein, no-recipe meal-prep pasta salad with tender chicken, beans, veggies, and a creamy dill pickle cottage cheese ranch dressing. Halal-friendly and perfect for quick lunches throughout the week.

Ingredients

12–16 oz cooked pasta, regular, protein, or hybrid pasta
3 cups cooked chicken breast or turkey, chopped
15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
10 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
10 oz fresh basil, chopped or thinly sliced
8 oz mozzarella pearls
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
4 oz halal-compatible pepperoni, diced (salami substitute), about 1 cup
1 bell pepper, small diced
1 ½ cups cottage cheese
½ cup dill pickle juice
⅓ cup milk
⅓ cup olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried chives

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Instructions

Make the dill pickle ranch dressing by blending cottage cheese, dill pickle juice, milk, olive oil, dried parsley, dill, garlic powder, onion powder, onion flakes, black pepper, salt, and chives in a blender or with an immersion blender until smooth
In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chopped chicken or turkey, drained chickpeas, cannellini beans, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped basil, mozzarella pearls, shredded parmesan, and diced bell pepper
Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until all ingredients are evenly coated
Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to allow the dressing to thicken
Before serving, stir the salad and adjust the dressing consistency with a splash of milk if needed
Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days

Notes

The dressing thickens significantly as it chills; stir it before serving or thin with additional milk if desired
For a lower-sodium version, use reduced-salt canned beans or soak them in water before use
This dish is ideal for meal prepping, store in separate containers to keep pasta from absorbing excess dressing
Halal-compatible pepperoni can be replaced with other non-pork deli meats like turkey slices

Prep Time: 20
Category: Lunch
Method: Cold Preparation
Cuisine: Italian-American