Quite a while ago …in fact it may have been a couple of years ago, I made a quick and easy meal. It was a Pesto Chicken & Broccoli Slaw and it was so good! I didn’t even think to save it as a recipe because it really was just a “throw together” kind of meal. I used what I had on hand and it came together beautifully. Facebook memories showed a photo of this meal and I just had to give it a-go again ….because good. And simple!
Meal In Minutes – Prep Ahead
While it can be a recipe that you make up on the spot, what made it so easy that first time (and even recently), is that I had prepared chicken on hand. So give yourself the total ease of this meal by either prepping some chicken on prep day or buying a rotisserie chicken to have on hand. The pesto sauce is homemade and really, sooooo easy to make. You just toss all of the ingredients in the blender and done! So don’t let the sauce intimidate you. But if you’re looking for yet, a more simpler way – feel free to grab pre-made pesto. I personally like making my own because it’s dairy free. Either way, this Pesto Chicken & Broccoli Slaw will come together in minutes!
I must confess, I find buying pre-packaged veggies so convenient these days. I used to rice my own cauliflower and I used to take the time to put the broccoli stalks through my food processor to make slaw. And I still do those things from time to time but with all the great options out there now, I find myself grabbing a bag just for the ease. I believe we must pick our battles and this is how I do my “fast food”. Clearly eating the pre-packaged and convenient veggie packages are so much better than grabbing food at a drive thru! I do try and find organic packages if possible. When you have these packages on hand, it really helps you to get healthy meals like this Pesto Chicken & Broccoli Slaw on the table in minutes & with minimal clean up.
What’s Your Pleasure?
Chicken is my go-to for ease. It’s one of the best prep ahead proteins to have on hand. While it’s probably the most convenient for a ‘quick and easy’, you can certainly add any protein to this and it would be equally as delish! Shrimp comes to mind …..or even a spicy chorizo! I actually have a really good dish with shrimp and pesto, using zoodles. You can grab that recipe HERE!
Well, I will let you have at it! Give this a try and please let me know what you think! I’d love to hear from you 🙂
Notes
Pesto Sauce
If preferred, roast nuts on baking sheet for 5-8 min in a 350 degree oven – Let cool.
In a high speed blender or food processor, blend all ingredients EXCEPT olive oil and 1/4 of the pine nuts.
Slowly drizzle in olive oil while continuing to blend/process.
Chop remaining 1/4 cup pine nuts to a fine consistency with food chopper or sharp knife and add to blended pesto (I do this because I like it a little thicker than having it all blended to a smooth consistency but feel free to blend it all in if preferred)
Ingredients
- Pesto Chicken & Slaw
- 2 (12 oz) packages of broccoli slaw
- 3 cups cooked, diced chicken (about 3
- chicken breast)
- 1-2 tsp favorite cooking fat (I used
- olive oil)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 batch of Pesto Sauce
- Pesto Sauce*(See Notes for instructions)
- 3 cups packed basil
- 1/2 cup pine nuts (separated)
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 tbsp cashew butter
- 4 large cloves of garlic
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes – optional
Instructions
- Dice chicken.
- In a blender, whip up the pesto sauce according to these directions.
- In a large pan, warm cooking fat and add the broccoli slaw. Stir occasionally, cooking until the slaw is coated through with oil (anywhere from 3-5 minutes/depends on pan size for cooking time).
- Toss in diced chicken and warm through.
- Slowly drizzle in the pesto sauce, stirring occasionally to incorporate throughout. Let it go for a few minutes to allow pesto to warm up.
- Top with reserved chopped pine nuts or even shake on some red pepper flakes!
