Free Dinner Recipes E-book!   Download Now

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Almond Eater logo

  • Browse Recipes
    • Recipes by Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sides
      • The Almond Eater Monthly Cooking Challenge
    • Recipes by Diet
      • Vegetarian
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Vegan
      • Mediterranean Diet
      • Paleo
      • Whole30
  • Meet Erin
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Browse Recipes +
    • Recipes by Course +
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sides
      • The Almond Eater Monthly Cooking Challenge
    • Recipes by Diet +
      • Vegetarian
      • Dairy Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Vegan
      • Mediterranean Diet
      • Paleo
      • Whole30
  • About Erin
  • Contact

Home » Recipes » 30-Minute Meals

Pesto Chicken Salad

By Erin · March 4, 2023 · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
  • Share
  • Tweet
Gluten Free
2 images: the top image is of the salad with pesto covered chicken on top and the bottom image is of the chicken grilling in a skillet

This 10-minute Pesto Chicken Salad puts a vibrant and herbaceous spin on everyday chicken salad. Pre-cooked chicken is tossed in a creamy pesto and Greek yogurt dressing, making for a quick, easy, and healthy lunch that’s packed with flavor.

a salad with pieces of pesto covered chicken on top

If you couldn’t tell already, I have a thing for chicken salad. From mango chicken salad to cottage cheese chicken salad to Whole30 chicken salad, I simply cannot get enough. However, this basil Pesto Chicken Salad is quickly becoming my new favorite!

It’s a simple and refreshing salad that features tender bites of chicken coated in a creamy pesto dressing. Best of all, it’s quick and easy to make, naturally gluten free, and only calls for a short list of good-for-you ingredients! Enjoy it as a topping on salad, grain bowls, or anywhere else you need a creamy and flavor-packed protein.

Recipe features

  • This is a fresh and simple spin on classic chicken salad that only takes 10 minutes to make.
  • You only need 6 healthy ingredients to make it, like pre-cooked chicken, pesto sauce, Greek yogurt, and mayonnaise.
  • It’s perfect for meal prep! Stuff the salad between sliced bread, into a wrap, pile it onto a healthy grain bowl, and much more.

Ingredients

Chicken - You can make this recipe even faster by using pre-cooked and chopped chicken breast, shredded chicken, or store-bought rotisserie chicken.

Greek yogurt - This is the thick, tangy base of the creamy pesto salad dressing. Regular plain yogurt also works well.

Basil pesto - You can upgrade this recipe with homemade pesto, like my almond pesto, kale pesto, and sun-dried tomato pesto.

Mayo - While Greek yogurt does make this salad nice and creamy, mayonnaise (especially my homemade avocado oil mayo) gives it an irresistible rich and creamy quality.

Lemon juice - To elevate the flavors and keep the pesto fresh-tasting and vibrant. 

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Cook the chicken. Cook the chicken if you haven’t already. Let it cool, then shred or chop it into bite-sized pieces.

2 images: the left image shows the raw chicken breasts on a plate and the right image shows the chicken pieces grilling in a skillet

Step 2: Make the pesto salad dressing. Stir the yogurt, pesto, mayo, and lemon juice in a bowl until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

a bowl with pesto sauce inside

Step 3: Dress the chicken. Add the chicken to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat, then serve it over a grain bowl, salad greens, or in a sandwich. Enjoy!

chicken pieces covered in pesto inside of a bowl

Tips and FAQs

  • The easiest way to cook the chicken is to boil it on the stovetop. It only takes about 20 minutes, maintains its tenderness, and makes it easier to chop or shred. You can learn how to boil and shred chicken in my Whole30 chicken salad recipe.
  • The chicken must be cooled to room temperature first. If it’s too hot, it will cause the basil in the pesto to darken, resulting in an off-putting color of the final dish. 
  • Chicken breasts vs. chicken thighs: I prefer to make this recipe with chicken breasts, but chicken thighs can be used in a pinch. For cooking tips, check out my grilled chicken thighs, pan-seared chicken thighs, or air fryer chicken thighs recipes.
  • Make chicken pesto pasta salad instead! Double up on the pesto dressing and stir cooked and cooled pasta noodles in with the dressing and chicken.

What else can you add to pesto chicken salad?

The simplicity of this chicken salad leaves plenty of room for mix-ins, such as:

  • Chopped celery
  • Red onion, green onion, or shallots
  • Toasted pine nuts
  • Almonds, walnuts, or pecans
  • Halved grape tomatoes
  • Sliced black olives
  • Drained artichoke hearts
  • Chopped sun-dried tomatoes

How do you serve pesto chicken salad?

You can serve it as a protein-packed sandwich filling, stuff it into lettuce cups, on top of salad greens or a grain bowl, or enjoy it straight-up with a side of crusty bread, crudites, or crackers. 

Can you turn this into a vegetarian “chicken” salad?

Absolutely! Just like my chickpea chicken salad, you can swap the chicken for smashed chickpeas and toss them with the dressing.

Storage

Refrigerator: Keep the pesto chicken in an airtight container. Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the top to prevent the pesto from browning, then refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.

a salad with pieces of pesto covered chicken on top

More healthy recipes with pesto

  • Chicken Pesto Pasta
  • Kale Pesto Pizza
  • Pesto Zucchini Noodles

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

a salad with pieces of pesto covered chicken on top

Pesto Chicken Salad

This 10-minute Pesto Chicken Salad puts a vibrant and herbaceous spin on everyday chicken salad. Pre-cooked chicken is tossed in a creamy pesto and Greek yogurt dressing, making for a quick, easy, and healthy lunch that’s packed with flavor.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 1 lb chicken cooked
  • ¼ cup greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup basil pesto (or my Kale Pesto recipe)
  • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • salt and pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • If you haven’t already, cook the chicken (I cooked mine in a skillet on the stovetop).
  • Next, combine the yogurt, pesto, mayo, lemon juice in a bowl and stir until smooth, then add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add the chicken in and toss to combine. Enjoy!

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 788IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 1mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
« The Easiest Rigatoni Bolognese
Instant Pot Vegetable Soup »

About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen B says

    March 04, 2023 at 11:14 am

    5 stars
    Oooh if I wasn't trapped home today by a blizzard... I would be off to the shop to get chicken (I'm out)... my ?outh is watering to have this... bet your bottom dollar I will be out tomorrow picking up what I need to make rhis!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 05, 2023 at 7:00 am

      Yay -- that makes me so happy! I hope you like the chicken salad, Karen!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

girl in kitchen

Hi, I'm Erin!

I share recipes for ALL diet types because I believe that healthy food should be incredibly delicious without being complicated. Learn more

Seasonal Picks

pasta salad made with mediterranean ingredients

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

bowl with lemon orzo salad beside a small dish of chopped fresh basil

Lemon Orzo Salad

cake on a cake stand with a slice cut out

Vegan Carrot Cake

berries and ice cream in a bowl

Gluten Free Rhubarb Crisp

Popular Recipes

pasta, peas and sausage in a skillet

Italian Chicken Sausage Pasta

bowl with ground pork and vegetables

Banh Mi Bowl (Paleo, Whole30)

a bowl of pasta with lentils and red sauce

Lentil Bolognese Recipe (Vegan + Gluten Free)

sweet potato brownies

Flourless Sweet Potato Brownies

dog eating cake

Mini Dog Birthday Cake

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash | squash filled with onions, mushrooms and kale for a healthy, vegetarian meal | thealmondeater.com

Caramelized Onion Spaghetti Squash

As Featured On

Footer

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • The Almond Eater Monthly Cooking Challenge

Copyright© 2023 | The Almond Eater. Site Credit

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter