• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
freebie! download my top 8 dessert recipe ebook

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Erin Lives Whole

Healthy Eats + Delicious Treats

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Dessert
      • Soup
      • Sides
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sauces & Dips
    • Dessert Type
      • Bars & Balls
      • Breads & Muffins
      • Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Candy
      • Cookies
      • Frozen
      • Pie & Cobbler
      • Other
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Paleo Friendly
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • 30 Minute or Less
      • Air Fryer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • Meal Prep
      • No Bake
      • One Pot/Pan
      • Oven
      • Stove Top
    • Season
      • Fall
      • Holiday
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • Recipe Filter
    • All Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Shop
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Subscribe to receive latest recipes

    Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

  • Browse by Diet
    • Gluten-Free
    • Dairy-Free
    • Nut-Free
    • Paleo Friendly
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch & Dinner
  • Drinks
  • Snacks
  • Dessert
  • Appetizers
Home By Meal

Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe

★★★★★ 14 Reviews Recipe Print
gf
By: Erin8/4/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe
Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe

Feed a crowd with this delicious, easy Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe. It’s made with 10 simple ingredients and is the perfect way to enjoy a filling, protein rich meal!

pesto chicken salad

The best chicken pesto salad

Chicken recipes are always the best. I think it’s because they’re so versatile, but maybe it’s because they allow you to go in so many different flavor directions!

One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is in chicken salad with pesto. It’s loaded with flavor, uses 10 ingredients (including salt and pepper), and is ready in hardly any time at all!

Chicken salad makes a fabulous dish for feeding a crowd, as it’s the perfect appetizer-style bite but can also be made into a heavier meal by enjoying on wraps or bread.

pesto chicken salad

Ingredients used to make pesto salad with chicken

You will need 10 ingredients to make pesto salad. When all is said and done, the recipe yields 10 delicious servings perfect for eating as-is or enjoying atop your favorite wrap or salad!

  • Chicken: First, you’ll need 4 cups of cooked, chopped, and packed chicken.
  • Peppers: Use 1/2 cup of chopped roasted red peppers.
  • Onion: Next, include 1/2 of a yellow onion diced into small pieces.
  • Celery: Include 1/2 cup of chopped celery for extra flavor and crunch.
  • Almonds: Add 1/2 cup of sliced almonds. This sneaks in a great flavor component!
  • Mayonnaise: To thicken up the salad, add 1/3 cup of mayo.
  • Greek yogurt: Next, include 1/3 cup of plain Greek yogurt. This replaces part of the mayo that you’ll find in other chicken salad recipes and makes things a bit healthier.
  • Pesto: Add 1/2 cup of store bought pesto for that great taste!
  • Seasonings: Finally, season the chicken salad with 1/2 tsp of salt and pepper, each.

Tools needed to make this recipe

To make this pesto chicken salad recipe, start with a cutting board and chopping knife. Many of the ingredients will need to be diced into small pieces. Next, you’ll need a large mixing bowl, small mixing bowl, stirring spatula or spoon, and whisk.

To measure ingredients you will need 1/2 tsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.

making pesto dressing
pesto chicken salad ingredients

How to make pesto chicken salad

Once your chicken is cooked and your ingredients are prepped, all you do is mix them together and enjoy!

First, add the chicken, roasted red pepper, onion, celery, and almonds to a large mixing bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, yogurt, pesto, salt, and pepper.

Add the dressing to a bowl with the chicken and veggies and stir until well combined.

How to enjoy pesto chicken salad

This chicken salad can be served in nearly any way, but one of my favorite ways to enjoy it is on a wrap. Just put a few spoonfuls onto your favorite tortillas or wraps, and you’re good go go! You don’t need to add anything else.

You can enjoy it as-is, as a sandwich, or use this as a topping for lettuce-based salads. Just add a dollop on top!

For food pairings, great side dishes include your favorite chips, salad, fruit, veggies, etc.!

Storing leftover pesto chicken

Keep leftovers refrigerated in a tightly sealed container. Enjoy within 3 days for the best flavor and freshness!

pesto chicken salad

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

This pesto chicken salad is the perfect meal for lunch, dinner, or a snack! If you’re craving some more chicken ideas, try these.

  • Healthy BBQ Chicken Thighs
  • One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
  • Cranberry Chicken Casserole
  • Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken
pesto chicken salad
★★★★★ 5 from 14 reviews

Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe

Feed a crowd with this delicious, easy Pesto Chicken Salad Recipe. It’s made with 10 simple ingredients and is the perfect way to enjoy a filling, protein rich meal!

Prep: 15Cook: 5Total: 20 minutes
Yield 10 servings (1/2 cup) 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked chicken, chopped + packed
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup celery, chopped
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup store bought pesto
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, add chicken, roasted red pepper, onion, celery, and almonds.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, yogurt, pesto, salt and pepper.
  3. Add dressing to bowl with chicken and veggies and stir until well combined.
  4. Serve! I like to eat in wraps, on salads, or just straight up!
Author: Erin
pesto chicken salad

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

erinliveswhole

There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

You May Also Like...

  • curry chicken salad
    Easy Curry Chicken Salad
  • chicken caesar salad
    Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad
  • chicken cobb salad
    Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Dressing
  • chicken parmesan on plate
    Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
chocolate chip cookies
free ebook

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

download now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love seeing what you made!

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Emma Silbert says

    Posted on 8/8 at 7:47 am

    So good! Used all Greek yogurt bc I was out of mayo and still really good. Had it on some gluten free bread for an easy lunch all week.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/8 at 3:57 pm

      Hi Emma, so happy you loved it and great pairing!!

      Reply
  2. Alyssa says

    Posted on 6/6 at 7:56 pm

    Made this for my boyfriend & it was “the BEST ELW recipe yet!”
    Will definitely be making this a staple!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 6/8 at 5:10 pm

      Hi Alyssa, so happy you both loved it so much!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Jen says

    Posted on 5/11 at 11:30 am

    Delicious! I made a salad with arugula and cucumbers and threw this on top. My husband had it in a sandwich. Love that it made plenty for this week’s lunches for the two of us.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 5/11 at 1:46 pm

      Hi Jen, so glad you both loved it! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Catie Leigh Deal says

    Posted on 9/6 at 12:24 pm

    Wow! I’m not really a huge chicken salad fan but this recipe is fantastic! I left out the celery. It has great flavor and goes great on sand which or a wrap!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 9/7 at 2:55 pm

      Hi Catie, so glad you wound up loving it and made it your own!

      Reply
  5. Jamie R says

    Posted on 8/25 at 2:20 pm

    So SOOO good! Skipped out on the onion because I am not a fan of raw onion and it was incredible! So flavorful!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/25 at 4:32 pm

      Hi Jamie, so glad you loved it and made it your own!

      Reply
  6. Whitney Behm says

    Posted on 8/19 at 8:01 pm

    My husband and I made this tonight and it was so so so delicious! Perfect easy dinner and enough left over for tomorrow for lunch too! Highly recommend all ELW recipes because I’ve honestly never had a bad one ever! She’s the best!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/21 at 4:13 pm

      Hi Whitney, so glad you both loved it so much! Thanks for your support!!

      Reply
  7. Hannah says

    Posted on 8/16 at 7:10 pm

    Greek yogurt is such a genius sub here! Great recipe, kept really well in my fridge. Yum!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/17 at 7:32 pm

      Hi Hannah, so happy you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  8. Jillian says

    Posted on 8/11 at 9:21 pm

    This recipe was amazing!! The only thing I subbed was homemade pesto & it was hands down my favorite recipe of yours that I’ve ever made! Thank you so much for creating this wonderful dish!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/13 at 12:17 pm

      Hi Jillian, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!

      Reply
  9. Gianna says

    Posted on 8/11 at 11:15 am

    I made this with a few substitutions! Instead of roasted red pepper I used a regular red pepper and walnuts to replace the almonds! I enjoyed it as a wrap with a little mozzarella, spinach and tomatoes! Sooo good even my husband wanted one!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/11 at 12:13 pm

      Hi Gianna, so happy you loved it and made it your own!

      Reply
  10. Mary says

    Posted on 8/11 at 2:18 am

    This recipe was so easy to make and absolutely delicious! I doubled the Greek yogurt as a Mayo replacement and used homemade pesto! Any chance you would also make an avocado chicken salad recipe?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/11 at 12:11 pm

      Hi Mary, so happy you loved it and made it your own!!

      Reply
  11. Rachel says

    Posted on 8/10 at 12:59 pm

    OMG this is amazing!! Super flavorful and delicious. Very easy to make!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/10 at 3:56 pm

      Hi Rachel, so happy you enjoyed it!!

      Reply
  12. Kelsey says

    Posted on 8/8 at 3:16 pm

    Really liked the idea of using pesto to add a twist to chicken salad. We used red pepper because we didn’t have roasted red pepper and enjoyed it!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/9 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Kelsey, so happy you loved it and made it your own!

      Reply
  13. Grace says

    Posted on 8/5 at 9:41 am

    Made this and it was soooo easy! Can’t wait to put it in wraps for a quick lunch!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/5 at 4:47 pm

      Hi Grace, so glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  14. Kelly says

    Posted on 8/5 at 6:38 am

    Absolutely delicious!! My husband thought it is fresh and fantastic.
    I halved the onions and omitted the salt and pepper and didn’t miss them. Lots of flavor. Highly recommend!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/5 at 4:47 pm

      Hi Kelly, so glad you loved it and made it your own!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

erin in front of a building

Hey there!

I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

grocery lists

Shop My Grocery Downloads

Do you head to the grocery store and feel overwhelmed with all of the options? Well, I've created FIVE downloadable and printable grocery lists from five different and popular grocery stores. All of my absolute must haves from Whole Foods, Target, a regular grocer, Trader Joe's, and Costco!

Shop Now

Popular Posts

chickpea brownie on a tray

Chickpea Brownies

bite out of healthy cookie dough ball

Healthy Cookie Dough Balls

cauliflower wings on plate

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

pouring syrup on stack of oatmeal blender pancakes

Oatmeal Blender Pancakes

chocolate chip cookies

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

Download Now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Trending Recipes

avocado corn salad

Avocado Corn Salad

cilantro lime shrimp on plate

Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Coconut Cauliflower Rice

paleo cookie skillet with ice cream

Healthy Cookie Skillet

banana bread muffin on a rack

Paleo Banana Bread Muffins

Featured On

good housekeeping logo
parade logo
feed feed logo
business insider logo
everyday health logo
country living logo
bar desserts
truffles
bar desserts
bar desserts
muffins
vanilla birthday cake with chocolate icing

Get latest updates To your inbox!

Back to Top
© 2023 Erin Lives Whole
  • Privacy Policy
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled