Description
Zesty pesto chicken salad blends rotisserie chicken’s rich flavors with garden-fresh herbs and crisp vegetables. Nutritious ingredients come together in a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein Base:
- 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken, shredded
Fresh Vegetables:
- 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or baby kale)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
Garnishes and Dressing:
- 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or walnuts (optional, for crunch)
- 1/4 cup pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Toss mixed greens into a spacious serving bowl, creating a vibrant green base for the salad.
- Gently shred rotisserie chicken into tender, bite-sized pieces and distribute evenly across the greens.
- Slice cherry tomatoes in half, revealing their juicy interiors, and scatter them throughout the salad.
- Dice cucumber into crisp, uniform cubes and sprinkle across the mixture for a refreshing crunch.
- Thinly slice red onion to add a sharp, zesty undertone to the dish.
- Crumble feta cheese over the salad, allowing the creamy, tangy cheese to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts across the top to introduce a delightful textural contrast and nutty dimension.
- Drizzle homemade or store-bought pesto generously over the salad, ensuring every ingredient gets coated with the aromatic herb sauce.
- Gently toss all ingredients together, ensuring an even distribution of flavors and dressing.
- Serve immediately to maintain the salad’s crisp texture and vibrant freshness.
Notes
- Choose a rotisserie chicken from the deli section to save time and add rich, pre-seasoned flavor to your salad.
- Swap regular feta for a dairy-free alternative like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese crumbles if you’re avoiding dairy.
- Customize the salad’s protein by using grilled tofu or plant-based chicken substitute for a vegetarian version that still delivers delicious texture.
- Massage the mixed greens with a bit of dressing beforehand to soften them and enhance overall taste absorption, making each bite more enjoyable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg