This 10-minute Pesto Hen Salad places a vibrant and herbaceous spin on on a regular basis hen salad. Pre-cooked hen is tossed in a creamy pesto and Greek yogurt dressing, making for a fast, simple, and wholesome lunch that’s full of taste.
When you couldn’t inform already, I’ve a factor for hen salad. From mango hen salad to cottage cheese hen salad to Whole30 hen salad, I merely can’t get sufficient. Nevertheless, this basil Pesto Hen Salad is shortly turning into my new favourite!
It’s a easy and refreshing salad that options tender bites of hen coated in a creamy pesto dressing. Better of all, it’s fast and simple to make, naturally gluten free, and solely requires a brief listing of good-for-you components! Get pleasure from it as a topping on salad, grain bowls, or wherever else you want a creamy and flavor-packed protein.
Recipe options
- This can be a recent and easy spin on basic hen salad that solely takes 10 minutes to make.
- You solely want 6 wholesome components to make it, like pre-cooked hen, pesto sauce, Greek yogurt, and mayonnaise.
- It’s excellent for meal prep! Stuff the salad between sliced bread, right into a wrap, pile it onto a wholesome grain bowl, and far more.
Substances
Hen – You can also make this recipe even quicker through the use of pre-cooked and chopped hen breast, shredded hen, or store-bought rotisserie hen.
Greek yogurt – That is the thick, tangy base of the creamy pesto salad dressing. Common plain yogurt additionally works effectively.
Basil pesto – You’ll be able to improve this recipe with selfmade pesto, like my almond pesto, kale pesto, and sun-dried tomato pesto.
Mayo – Whereas Greek yogurt does make this salad good and creamy, mayonnaise (particularly my selfmade avocado oil mayo) offers it an irresistible wealthy and creamy high quality.
Lemon juice – To raise the flavors and preserve the pesto fresh-tasting and vibrant.
Step-by-step directions
Step 1: Prepare dinner the hen. Prepare dinner the hen should you haven’t already. Let it cool, then shred or chop it into bite-sized items.
Step 2: Make the pesto salad dressing. Stir the yogurt, pesto, mayo, and lemon juice in a bowl till clean. Season to style with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Gown the hen. Add the hen to the bowl with the dressing. Toss to coat, then serve it over a grain bowl, salad greens, or in a sandwich. Get pleasure from!
Suggestions and FAQs
- The best option to prepare dinner the hen is to boil it on the stovetop. It solely takes about 20 minutes, maintains its tenderness, and makes it simpler to cut or shred. You’ll be able to discover ways to boil and shred hen in my Whole30 hen salad recipe.
- The hen have to be cooled to room temperature first. If it’s too scorching, it is going to trigger the basil within the pesto to darken, leading to an off-putting colour of the ultimate dish.
- Hen breasts vs. hen thighs: I choose to make this recipe with hen breasts, however hen thighs can be utilized in a pinch. For cooking ideas, take a look at my grilled hen thighs, pan-seared hen thighs, or air fryer hen thighs recipes.
- Make hen pesto pasta salad as an alternative! Double up on the pesto dressing and stir cooked and cooled pasta noodles in with the dressing and hen.
What else are you able to add to pesto hen salad?
The simplicity of this hen salad leaves loads of room for mix-ins, comparable to:
- Chopped celery
- Pink onion, inexperienced 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 hen salad?
You’ll be able to serve it as a protein-packed sandwich filling, stuff it into lettuce cups, on prime of salad greens or a grain bowl, or get pleasure from it straight-up with a aspect of crusty bread, crudites, or crackers.
Are you able to flip this right into a vegetarian “hen” salad?
Completely! Identical to my chickpea hen salad, you may swap the hen for smashed chickpeas and toss them with the dressing.
Storage
Fridge: Preserve the pesto hen in an hermetic container. Squeeze some recent lemon juice excessive to forestall the pesto from browning, then refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
Extra wholesome recipes with pesto
When you made this recipe, make sure you go away a remark and star ranking beneath. Thanks!
Pesto Hen Salad
This 10-minute Pesto Hen Salad places a vibrant and herbaceous spin on on a regular basis hen salad. Pre-cooked hen is tossed in a creamy pesto and Greek yogurt dressing, making for a fast, simple, and wholesome lunch that’s full of taste.
Servings: 2
Substances
- 1 lb hen 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 style
Directions
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When you haven’t already, prepare dinner the hen (I cooked mine in a skillet on the stovetop).
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Subsequent, mix the yogurt, pesto, mayo, lemon juice in a bowl and stir till clean, then add salt and pepper to style.
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Add the hen in and toss to mix. Get pleasure from!
Notes
*Energy are per serving and are an estimation.
Vitamin
Serving: 1g | Energy: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 38g | Saturated Fats: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 10g | Monounsaturated Fats: 9g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 464mg | Potassium: 246mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 788IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 1mg
