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Pesto Chicken Salad

Pesto Chicken Salad is a delicious, easy recipe for your next party. You can use leftover chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken. The rotisserie is the perfect way to make pesto-infused chicken salad. It only takes 20 minutes to make. Simply combine the shredded, cooked, and roasted rotisserie-roasted pieces of the thigh. After that, you can add chopped celery, tomatoes, and onions for a delicious salad.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 serves
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 164
Ingredients Method Video Notes

Ingredients
  

Fresh Basil Pesto
  • 2 cups Fresh Basil
  • 1/3 cup Pine Nuts toasted and cooled
  • 2 Garlic Cloves
  • 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Parmesan-Reggiano I used Grana Padano Stravecchio
  • Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
Pesto Chicken Salad
  • 1 cup Fresh Basil Pesto recipe above
  • 2 cups Chicken Breast chopped in small cubes
  • 1/2 cup Light Sour Cream
  • 1/4 cup Mayonnaise low fat or regular
  • 1 tsp Lemon Juice

Method
 

Fresh Basil Pesto
  1. Add basil leaves and pine nuts to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until completely chopped up.
  2. Add garlic cloves to the food processor and pulse some more until garlic is fully chopped up and mixed with the basil mixture.
  3. Add the oil in a slowly steady stream to the basil mixture while food processor is turned on.
  4. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add the cheese. Pule a few more times until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pesto Chicken Salad
  1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Sandwich between two fresh bread slices or serve with lettuce.

Video

Notes

What an easy and fresh meal! At least it tasted fresh. That is why I love basil, it instantly wakes you up with its bright and distinctive flavor. I used freshly baked challah bread but you could use any sort of bread to make a sandwich or panini and feel free to add your favorite toppings to the sandwich, such as roasted bell peppers or cheese. I have never been a fan of eating tuna or chicken salad on lettuce, but it that is how you roll then go right away. However you eat this,  you are sure to enjoy it.