This easy pesto chicken salad recipe is one of the easiest chicken salad recipes you can make! High-protein, simple ingredients, and full of fresh pesto flavor. Make it in under 5 minutes for an easy and healthy meal prep lunch.
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Why You'll Love This Healthy Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe
Here are the top 7 reasons you need to make this flavorful chicken salad:
- Only 3 simple and fresh ingredients!
- Use rotisserie, canned, or cooked chicken, and either pre-made or dairy-free fresh pesto.
- Easy lunch recipe or quick dinner you can make in just 5 minutes!
- No food processor is needed!
- Full of protein, low carb, and keto-friendly.
- Not your everyday chicken salad - Creamy and full of fresh flavors!
- You can eat this chicken salad in different ways! Wraps, salads, on bread, or on its own!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Pesto: You can make homemade pesto with lots of basil or buy a store-bought pesto from the grocery store.
- Chicken: I like using store-bought rotisserie chicken because it is super easy (just like in our healthy cranberry chicken salad.) Grilled chicken, chicken thighs, or canned chicken is also a great option.
- Plain Greek yogurt: plain Greek yogurt brings the dish together and is healthier than mayo or sour cream. Substitute creamy avocado for a dairy-free option.
How to Make This Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix and serve in a wrap, lettuce cups, on toast or a croissant, or to top leafy greens like arugula, kale, or romaine. Top with sea salt if desired.
Expert Tips
- Make ahead: Meal prep this rotisserie chicken salad and make ahead for a week full of lunches.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Serving: Enjoy this ultimate chicken salad for lunch or dinner in wraps or lettuce wraps, on croissants, on top of salad greens, romaine lettuce, or toast, or even stirred into pasta for a cold pesto pasta salad.
- Consider add-ins like chopped cherry tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper, chopped green onion, or a squeeze of lemon juice for additional flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Chicken, potatoes, pasta, and pesto salmon are my favorite ways to use up pesto.
Basil, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and simple seasoning make up the traditional recipe. To make a vegan pesto you can swap out parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast. For a less expensive version, use walnuts instead of pine nuts.
Other Simple Salads for Easy Cooking!
Simple Pesto Chicken Salad - 3-Ingredients!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 6 oz pesto
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix together and serve in a wrap, on toast or a croissant or on top of lettuce like arugula, kale or romaine.2 cups rotisserie chicken, ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt, 6 oz pesto
Notes
- Make ahead: Meal prep this recipe and make ahead for a week's full of lunches.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
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Jessica says
Tried this for the first time today and am super pleased. Instead of rotisserie chicken I used 3 10oz cans of canned chicken (for a double recipe) and 8 low-carb tortillas for meal prep. Had a serving left over that I made into a sandwich and I love the flavors. I seasoned the chicken with black pepper and a garlic herb blend before mixing also. Very quick to make (it might've taken 20 minutes total) which is critical for me. Great recipe.
Lyndsey Piccolino says
I'm so glad you liked it Jessica!