Pesto Chicken Salad
Pesto Chicken Salad is a fresh, flavorful salad featuring tender Chicken tossed with aromatic Pesto, crisp vegetables, and optional creamy additions like Mozzarella or avocado.It’s a high-protein Mediterranean-style salad that works great for lunch, dinner, or meal prep.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: 20–25 minutes
Servings: 3–4
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
Salad Ingredients
2 cups mixed greens or spinach
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cucumber, diced
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
½ avocado, sliced
Dressing
3 tbsp pesto
2 tbsp Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
Optional Toppings
¼ cup fresh mozzarella balls
2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
shaved parmesan
fresh basil leaves
Instructions
1. Cook the Chicken
Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook chicken for 6–7 minutes per side until fully cooked.
Let it rest for a few minutes, then dice or shred.
2. Make the Pesto Dressing
In a small bowl whisk together:
pesto
Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
lemon juice
Mix until smooth.
3. Prepare the Salad Base
In a large bowl combine:
mixed greens
cherry tomatoes
cucumber
red onion
4. Assemble the Salad
Add cooked chicken to the salad and drizzle with pesto dressing. Toss gently.
5. Add Toppings
Top with avocado, mozzarella, pine nuts, or parmesan if desired.
Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. It makes this recipe even faster.
Can I make it low-carb?
Yes. This salad is already low carb—just avoid sweet toppings.
Can I make it dairy-free?
Use dairy-free pesto and skip cheese or yogurt.
Can I meal prep this?
Yes. Store chicken, salad, and dressing separately and combine when ready to eat.
Nutritional Information
Calories: ~360 kcal
Protein: ~32 g
Carbohydrates: ~8 g
Fiber: ~3 g
Fat: ~22 g
Sodium: ~420 mg