Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens

Rating: 3.83 stars
6 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 1
  • 4 star values: 4
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0

For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we've replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.

EatingWell Test Kitchen
Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2015

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Recipe Summary

total:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Nutrition Profile:
Heart Healthy
Low-Calorie
Low Carbohydrate
Diabetic Appropriate
Gluten-Free
Low Sodium
Healthy Aging
Healthy Immunity
Low Added Sugars
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

Directions

  • Place chicken in a medium saucepan and add water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a clean cutting board; shred into bite-size pieces when cool enough to handle.

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  • Combine pesto, mayonnaise and onion in a medium bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Whisk oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add greens and tomatoes and toss to coat. Divide the green salad among 4 plates and top with the chicken salad.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 2 cups greens & 1/2 cup chicken salad
Per Serving:
324 calories; protein 27.1g; carbohydrates 9.2g; dietary fiber 2.3g; sugars 3.2g; fat 19.7g; saturated fat 4.1g; cholesterol 71.4mg; vitamin a iu 1777.3IU; vitamin c 17.6mg; folate 57.4mcg; calcium 153mg; iron 2.1mg; magnesium 47.5mg; potassium 542.2mg; sodium 453.9mg; thiamin 0.1mg; added sugar 1g.
Exchanges:

1 vegetable, 3 1/2 lean meat, 3 fat
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Reviews (4)

Read More Reviews
6 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 1
  • 4 star values: 4
  • 3 star values: 0
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
Ann Atwood Fraley
Rating: 4 stars
10/16/2018
I'll be adding some kind of veggie to this to make it even more filling. Questioning the notation that you can sub half the mayo to make it more healthy. Since this recipe has so little in the way of carbs and sugar in particular you don't need to reduce the fat. Fat in the absence of carbohydrates doesn't damage your arteries or add to your weight. Read More
Danielle Davenport
Rating: 4 stars
01/24/2018
My whole family likes this recipe kids included prepared according to the directions. We also like to make this and stuff it in pitas for an "on the go" dinner at the ball field or on the lake. It's a regular on our menu. Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 4 stars
03/21/2015
Easy and tasty Used leftover chicken to speed up the recipe. This was easy to make and very good. Pros: Tasty simple fast Read More
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Sian
Rating: 5 stars
05/23/2019
Was a really quick and easy recipe! I was surprised at how filling one serve was aswell! Both my partner and I love it!! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 2 stars
03/09/2015
Not Low Cholesterol! You need to research what a low cholesterol term means. In order for it to be low in cholesterol it has to be 50 mg or less. This is 71 mg per serving so NOT low cholesterol as you show it. Pros: diabetic friendly Cons: High Cholesterol! Read More
EatingWell User
Rating: 4 stars
03/03/2015
Yummy and so easy I might add lightly steamed or roasted asparagus next time. This is also good made as an open-faced sandwich on crusty bread. Pros: Tasty quick and easy Read More
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