This pesto chicken salad is a great way to use fresh pesto up and make a summer chicken salad that is bursting with pesto flavor.
The chicken salad is great served over greens for a lunch or a light dinner but is also fantastic stuffed between ciabatta bread, and scooped with crackers for an easy snack.
And if you love recipes that combine pesto and chicken, try my pesto chicken breast with mozzarella.
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Pesto Chicken Salad
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 2–3 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 3 cups shredded chicken
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, pesto, and Dijon mustard.
- Add the shredded chicken to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat and chill until serving.
- Season with additional sea salt and black pepper if desired.
- Serve over greens, on bread or with crackers.
Notes
- Makes about 3 cups
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef
i usually have mayo + grapes + almonds/walnuts/some kind of nut + green peppers + some herbs in my chicken salad, but i looooove the idea of pesto!
Alyse
I had some Just Bare chicken recently, too! We really enjoyed it 🙂 I usually do a curried chicken salad, because I’m a sucker for all things curry. I usually try to find mayo-free recipes (or substitute yogurt) because I’m not a mayo fan.
Love the pesto in this recipe!
Emily
I love a good curry chicken salad as well. 🙂
eliza
mine’s very similar, though i keep my chicken in chunkier shreds and throw in toasted pine nuts and cubed granny smith apple pieces. i’m not normally a fruit in savory foods kinda girl, but the apple makes all the difference in the world to this salad!
Emily
I always put apples in curry chicken salad, but I love the pine nut idea!
YUM!
eliza
just to clarify in case there was confusion (not sure), i meant similar to your pesto chicken salad, not alyse’s curried one.
Emily
Yes, I’ve just only put it in curried chicken salad, but I love the idea for ANY chicken salad! 🙂
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed)
Love the idea of a pesto chicken salad. I have never thought of this combo!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen)
This sounds amazing! The pesto has to be perfect in it!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum
Mmmm looks tasty! I love pesto, and my basil plant is (amazingly) still alive so I could actually make this! 🙂
Emily
I’m impressed, I just threw out my herb pot that had nothing living. 🙁
Lauren
A great idea to make chicken salad with all of the chicken. I think this would also work well with tuna.
Stephanie @cookinfanatic
Mmmm I’ve never thought to put pesto into chicken salad but it sounds really really good!!!
Katie@Real Food Katie's Way
I’ve never thought to make chicken salad with pesto…That’s awesome! I’m adding it to the list!
Mercedes@Satisfy My Sweet Tooth
Love this recipe for a quick and easy lunch!