School’s out for summer! And with summer here, I really don’t like turning on the oven if at all possible. Chicken salad is always a great option, especially one with pesto! This Pesto Chicken Salad/Dip is keto, paleo and simple to make! It’s perfect to have on hand in the fridge for any time of the day.
I remember when I tried to find a paleo pesto in the stores, I was a bit shocked to see some of the ingredients. Most use parmesan cheese, which isn’t bad but other unnecessary ingredients had me scratching my head. I was steering clear of all dairy at the time and I honestly couldn’t find a pesto sauce that fit my needs. SO! I came home and winged it! I bought some basil and used what I had in my cupboard. And my pesto sauce became a huge hit in our household.
While the ingredients might seem a little long to those who like a 5 ingredient or less recipe, it’s one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make! You literally toss it all in the blender and …..done! This Pesto Chicken Salad/Dip can be whipped up in minutes, especially if you take the convenient route and buy a rotisserie chicken. As mentioned, I leave the oven out of the equation as much as possible in the hot summer months so a store bought rotisserie is definitely the way to go! Ease and convenience is always a plus!
What I like about this Pesto Chicken Salad/Dip, is that it is exactly that! It can be eaten as a salad ….stuffed into lettuce wraps, in an avocado or just with a spoon out of a bowl. That said, using plantain chips, cucumber slices or paleo crackers make this a perfect dip as well. It truly is a perfect summer meal! Think about this recipe when you have to tote along a dish for a get together! I promise you – it’s a crowd pleaser!
Happy summer my friends! ENJOY!
Pesto Chicken Salad/Dip – Keto|Paleo|Simple
Ingredients
- Pesto Sauce (see below)
- 2 heaping cups cooked diced chicken (I used 2 breasts and a thigh)*
- 1/2 cup sliced grape tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- Optional – for “tacos”:
- Endive leaves
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Pesto Sauce ingredients:
- 3 cups packed basil
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/4 cup walnuts
- 1 tbsp cashew butter
- 4 large cloves of garlic
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all pesto ingredients into blender and give it a whirl. Scrape down sides of necessary and blend til “saucy”.
- Dice chicken (*make it easy on yourself and buy a premade roasted chicken!).
- Dice and slice onions & tomatoes.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, tomatoes and onions. Pour in the pesto sauce and stir to incorporate. Season with more salt and pepper if desired.
- Chicken salad is ready for dipping into or stuffing into your favorite “taco shell”!
