Pesto makes everything taste better (like bacon 🙂 ). It really adds a flavor boost to just about any recipe! This pesto chicken salad is SO yummy and VERY easy to make! I included a recipe for homemade pesto (also super easy) but you can use store bought pesto to make it even quicker. This is a great recipe for using up leftover chicken (or turkey) in the fridge or you can use a rotisserie chicken from the store. You can serve it on the bread of your choice or simply serve over a salad for a lighter meal.
This is a really nice change from your typical chicken salad!
Pesto Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
2 C. shredded chicken (you can use the beater attachment on your Kitchen Aid to easily shred chicken)
1/4 C. mayonnaise (you could also substitute plain Greek yogurt for the mayo to lighten the recipe up)
1/8 C. green onions, diced
salt and pepper to taste
baby spinach leaves and tomatos, for serving (optional)
bread, croissant, pita pockets or rolls of your choice
*Makes 2 servings.
Dairy Free Pesto Ingredients:
2 C. fresh basil leaves
2 tsp. fresh, minced garlic
1/4-1/3 C. olive oil
2-3 tbs. pine nuts (can substitute walnuts)
Directions:
1. Combine the basil, garlic and pine nuts in a blender or food processor. Pulse until blended. Keep your blender or food processor on and add the olive oil until smooth. Store in the fridge in an airtight container up to 2 days.
2. In a bowl, combine the 2 cups of shredded chicken, mayonnaise and green onions and pesto. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve on bread of your choice or on top of salad.
*I have made this with a 7 ounce container of Buitoni Pesto (refrigerator case). I use almost the whole container. If you have pesto leftover you can spread it on the bread as well.
This is very simple to make and takes about 10 minutes to put together!
Print Easy Pesto Chicken Salad
- Category: Pesto Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 C. shredded chicken (you can use the beater attachment on your Kitchen Aid to easily shred chicken)
- 1/4 C. mayonnaise (you could also substitute plain Greek yogurt for the mayo to lighten the recipe up)
- 1/8 C. green onions, diced
- salt and pepper to taste
- baby spinach leaves and tomatos, for serving (optional)
- bread, croissant, pita pockets or rolls of your choice
- *Makes 2 servings.
Instructions
- Combine the basil, garlic and pine nuts in a blender or food processor. Pulse until blended. Keep your blender or food processor on and add the olive oil until smooth. Store in the fridge in an airtight container up to 2 days.
- In a bowl, combine the 2 cups of shredded chicken, mayonnaise and green onions and pesto. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste.
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Hi Manuela,
Do you use the whole batch of pesto in the chicken salad or just part of it?
Thanks!
Hi Karen, I used the whole batch because we really like pesto and I also spread it on the bread. But I would mix it in and taste and see how much you like. You can refrigerate it for up to 2 days or you can freeze it in ice cube trays (if you don’t use it all).
I love pesto and make my own often. The chicken salad sounds great!
Can’t wait to give this a try! Looks and sound so delicious!!
That looks fantastic! I love pesto, and serving it with a piece of spinach on the bun just makes it.
This might be a chicken salad recipe I would try. And YES! Bacon and Pesto make everything better!
Oh wow this looks delish and perfect for the summer months! I’ll have to try it at home!
Looks delicious! I need to make the dairy free pesto for my daughter since she can no longer have milk products.
Mmm I’d love to make some of this to use for my lunches. I’d love to try it with the dairy free ingredients or the Greek yogurt instead of mayo.
Yum! I love this. Pesto chicken is one of my all time favorites. So good. I love these small like this my kids would actually eat them!
We often do a warm pesto chicken as an entree so I am dying to try this summer friendly salad version. I bet it would be amazing on some Hawaiian rolls.
That sounds phenomenal! My family is going to love this!
This sounds really good. I have not had chicken salad in a long time. I know what I am having for lunch next week.
This recipe sounds really good. I love pesto chicken so I’m sure this would be perfect for me. I can’t wait to try it.
It’s great to see how creative you can get with just a few ingredients!
These look super tasty. I always love little sandwiches like this, they are perfect for parties.
That is a great sounding recipe. I love pesto. My DIL’s mom introduced it to me and I’ve been sold since.
The pesto chicken salad sounds yummy. I’ve never been a big fan of mayo, so I’m delighted to see the option of Greek Yogurt (which I really do like!).
This looks so good! I love that I can easily whip it up in the summer for lunch by the pool.
We love to make pesto from the basil in our garden, but we always put it in our pasta. This is a great new way to use our pesto, I can’t wait to try it!
I really want to try this! I’ve wanted something to spice up my usual chicken salad.
I haven’t cooked a whole lot with pesto. But that salad looks yummy enough that I will try it.
Oh my gosh! I really need to make. I love chicken and pesto would be great together.
Oh yum! My husband would love this. He’s a huge fan of petso with anything!
This looks perfect for summer! Thanks for the recipe.
This looks delclious. My kids recently surprised me with their like of pesto. This would probably be a hit in our home.
This sounds awesome for summer! I have to say, I think I’d toss in a handful of celery. I don’t know why but celery always makes these better for me! Is that odd?? Maybe just a summer thing?? 😉
I love the pesto twist to your usual chicken salad recipe! what a fun flavor combo for summer
This looks and sounds amazing! I’ve never had anything like this before. Thanks for sharing.
I pinned this instantly!! This would make a great lunch option for me in the near future!
I love little sandwiches. With the kids being home from school for the summer we are always looking for ways to feed us all for a easy lunch. This is perfect.
Yummy! This little sandwich looks amazing! Pinned and can’t wait to try!
I love anything with pesto! This looks delicious! I pinned so I can try it soon!
Jill
Doused In Pink
I must be dumb – I have NEVER thought to add pesto into chicken salad! Thanks so much for taking the time to link up over at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week!
This looks wonderful! Wish I had this for lunch today! Thanks for linking up with What’s Cookin’ Wednesday!
Thank you. That is what we had for lunch today!