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This Basil Pesto Chicken Salad is the perfect quick and easy lunch or snack. You can serve it with crackers, as a sandwich, or as a salad with mixed greens. Made with just a few simple ingredients, this flavorful chicken salad will be your new favorite!

quick & easy basil pesto chicken salad

Another chicken salad recipe!

Seriously, y’all, you cannot have too many chicken salad recipes. When you need a lunch that’s quick, easy, and perfect to prep ahead, chicken salad is a fool-proof recipe that never fails.

When I’m not sure what to prep for lunches during the week or I know that my husband and I have a jam-packed crazy schedule, I always default to some kind of chicken salad.

Thankfully, there are so many different and delicious combinations of chicken salads you can whip up. Some of my personal favorite combos are classic chicken salad and this buffalo chicken salad.

how to make basil pesto

This basil pesto chicken salad is so flavorful thanks to the homemade pesto. You could use store-bought pesto if you’d like, but making your own pesto is so simple and you should definitely give it a try.

To make this dairy-free basil spinach pesto, here’s what you need:

• Fresh basil 

• Baby spinach

• Garlic (fresh whole garlic cloves are the best for this recipe)

• Red pepper flakes (you could leave these out if you prefer)

• Pine nut (you can toast these for extra flavor!)

• Olive oil

• Lemon juice

• Salt

basil pesto chicken salad ingredients

Because of the flavorful pesto in this chicken salad, this chicken salad doesn’t need too many more ingredients. All you need is just a few more elements for crunch and you’re good to go!

To make this pesto chicken salad:

• tender chicken

• creamy mayo

• homemade basil pesto

• crunchy pine nuts

• red onion

• fresh lemon juice

Once you have all of your ingredients, making the pesto is as simple as adding them to a food processor and pulsing until everything is well combined. The texture of the pesto shouldn’t be silky smooth but there shouldn’t be huge chunks of nuts or garlic either. 

How to Serve this Pesto Chicken Salad

You can serve chicken salad with crackers, in a sandwich, or even on mixed greens as a salad. This creamy and flavorful basil pesto chicken is sure to be one of your new favorites.

Go ahead and make a batch this week and keep it in the fridge to have quick lunches or snacks all week!

if you love this basil pesto chicken salad recipe, here are few other delicious salad recipes you have to try!

• Five-Minute Classic Chicken Salad [whole30, paleo]

• Buffalo Chicken Salad [whole30, paleo]

• Curry Chicken Salad [paleo, gluten-free]

• Simple and Easy Salmon Salad [whole30, paleo]

• Healthy Tuna Salad [paleo, whole30]

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Basil Pesto Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped chicken

• 1/3 cup basil pesto

• 1/4 cup Whole30 compliant mayo

• 1/4 c pine nuts

• 2 tbsp diced red onion

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

• salt + pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all of the ingredients to a large bowl and mix until well combined. Add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to taste. 

2. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.