It is rare for me to like something so much that I take the time to make a copycat version of it but the Cafe Express Chicken Deli Salad is SO GOOD! It’s the perfect combination of lettuce, pasta, chicken, olives and tomatoes. I’m telling you even the most adverse salad eaters will love this salad for all the different textures and tastes. I have so many memories of going to Cafe Express by our house with my parents and later as a teenager being dropped off and having dinner with my girlfriends. They have the BEST assortment of olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pickles, bread sticks and the list goes on…I think that was part of the fun of eating there! I haven’t had this salad in YEARS but a light bulb went off the other night when I had a craving…why I can’t I make my own version of this salad? I’m telling you this super easy salad was so easy to throw together and will quickly be added to the top of your list of FODMAP chicken recipes.
Do you get random cravings for your old restaurant favorites? Let me know and I can try and create a FODMAP safe version of it…
Looking for other delicious FODMAP dinner recipes? Check out a few of my favorites: herb scallops & rice, turkey sloppy joes & lasagna.
Copy Cat Cafe Express Chicken Deli Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: dinner
- Cuisine: American
Description
A take on my favorite salad from Cafe Express!
Ingredients
- 2 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
- 1 cup cooked gluten-free shell pasta (follow cooking instructions on box)
- 1–2 tbsp FODMAP safe pesto sauce (amount based on preference)
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup Mini tomatoes
- 4 big handfuls of spring lettuce mix
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar, for dressing
Instructions
- In small bowl mix together the pesto and shell pasta. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl add the remaining ingredients except for the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Top with the pesto pasta shells and dress with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Keywords: FODMAP salad recipe, FODMAP dinner recipe, low FODMAP dinner, fodmap chicken recipes, fodmap chicken dinner