Spinach and Chicken Tortellini Salad

5 stars

It was hard coming up with a name for this salad, as it has so many other things in this salad that could be in the title, like artichokes and red peppers or even the pesto.  But alas.. this is the name I came up with. Kinda boring compared to the flavor for this recipe.
My mom first made this salad a few years back and I or we make this on special occasions.  Not for holidays or anything like that, but when we get together or family is from out of town type occasions.  I also love to serve this with a baquette.. I could have baquette with anything really, but goes perfect with this salad.

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless breast chicken
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tbs olive oil
• salt pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 can baby artichoke hearts cut in half
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes cut in halves or sliced
• 1 bag baby spinach rinsed/cleaned
• 1 family size cheese tortellini cooked (I use the tri-colored ones)
• 2 tbs Classico green pesto 

Directions

1. I start with heating olive oil in a pan and cutting up my chicken breast into chunks. Small enough bite size pieces.  I add to the hot pan and then add my cut up garlic. Let his cook on med heat until done. Cool just a bit.
2. In a bowl add you cleaned well drained spinach.  Add you cut up tomatoes (another alternative that is tasty is adding about 2 tbs of cut up roasted tomatoes from the jar) Add your drained artichokes.
3. Cut up your red and yellow peppers, drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper.  Put in oven with your broil on hi. check it often, as they can burn fast, but about 5-7 minutes they are done. Add to your bowl of spinach. 
4. Add the cooked chicken and the pesto and stir until the pesto has coated everything.
5. Add your cooled tortellini to the bowl and stir a few more times.
6. Serve and enjoy!
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Spinach and Chicken Tortellini Salad