This vibrant quinoa, pesto chicken salad with green vegetables makes a tasty light meal. It's also a great way to use up leftover roast chicken as well as leftover pesto!
Usually pesto goes with pasta or you can drizzle it on soup. But, after using it to make this chicken pesto salad with quinoa I definitely believe that it is not used with enough variety. Why save pesto for pasta? The pesto goes brilliantly with the quinoa in this salad. What about using it on other grains to? Or beans? Or lentils?
As far as I'm aware, I don't think enough people have tried the combination of quinoa and pesto. I'm not saying it hasn't been done before, just not by enough people. Wouldn't it be nice to change that?
I promise you that if next time you have a roast chicken, you use the leftovers to make this quinoa, pesto and chicken salad, you will not be disappointed.
Having leftover roast chicken that I needed to use up is how this quinoa and pesto chicken salad came about. The best thing about it is that it is a meal from leftovers which also makes enough for leftovers. I managed to eat this quinoa salad for 2 days in a row and even then I was not tired of it. I would actually cook some chicken just to make this.
So, if you don't have leftover roast chicken but want to have this pesto chicken salad, don't let that stop you.
What ingredients are in this pesto chicken salad?
I use leftover roast chicken but you can even cook a chicken breast just to make it. Here's what you'll need:
- Quinoa - You can use red, black or white quinoa or a mixture. I usually start with dried quinoa and cook it from scratch but you can buy pouches of ready cooked quinoa if you prefer.
- Lemon - The juice is used in the dressing. I like to use fresh lemons but if you have a bottle of squeezed lemon juice you can use that. It just doesn't tend to be as vibrant tasting.
- Seasoning - A little salt and black pepper to taste.
- Oil - I use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. You can experiment with different oils too. Some nut oils would work well in this.
- Vegetabes - I've used a mixture of spring onions, sugar snap peas, cucumber and asparagus. You can switch these up and use different vegetables though. As I make this salad to use up leftover roast chicken and often leftover pesto too, it really depends on what vegetables I have in my fridge.
- Pesto - I have made this salad with homemade pesto and with a jar of bought pesto
- Chicken - I usually make this with leftover roast chicken but it also works with leftover roast turkey. It's a great recipe to make between Christmas and New Year to use up some of the leftover roast dinner.
How to make this pesto quinoa and chicken salad
Do check out the full recipe card further down the post. Basically, this salad is just a matter of cooking the quinoa, chopping up the vegetables, slicing the chicken and mixing them all together with some pesto!
Make sure you taste it and add extra seasoning or dressing if necessary.
How to adapt the recipe
This is a great recipe to play around with. You can definitely change the vegetables. Why not add peas, courgette or green beans? You may need to lightly cook some vegetables first depending on what you use.
The quinoa is the base of the salad and can also be substituted with something else. Rice or pasta both work really well. You can use any grain or even try green lentils.
If you don't have leftover roast chicken but another meat then try it too. You can even make a vegetarian version by using grilled halloumi. Or just diced feta or goats cheese.
What kind of pesto can you use?
I like this particular salad with green pesto. If you have your own way of making it then that's great and go ahead. It's delicious with a traditional basil pesto, either homemade or shop bought. However, if you want to vary the pesto you use why not try one of these pesto recipes:
- Dairy-free coriander pesto with cashew nuts
- Basil and sunflower seed pesto
- Carrot top pesto
- Sundried tomato pesto with almonds
Can you make this in advance?
This is a great salad recipe to prepare in advance. You can make it in the morning if you know you'll be busy later in the day and then dinner is ready whenever you want it. Or lunch.
It's also great to eat the next day and can be put in a lunch box or picnic too.
Storing
Just store this salad in the fridge in an airtight container. It will keep well for about three days. Of course, if you make it with leftover roast chicken then it will keep for three days from when the chicken was cooked.
I often store the salad separately from the chicken and just put them together when I'm serving them. If I do this I add a little more pesto to the chicken if I still have some left over.
Recipe
Chicken and Pesto Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
- 200 g dried quinoa
- ½ lemon juiced
- Pinch Black pepper
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 Spring onions sliced
- 100 g sugar snap peas sliced into about 3 pieces
- ½ cucumber cut into sticks
- 16 tender spears of asparagus sliced into pieces about 3cm long
- 150 g basil pesto. Use this recipe or shop bought.
- 400 g Cooked chicken
Instructions
- Cook the quinoa according to the pack instructions. It should take about 10 minutes. Leave to cool.
- Mix the lemon juice, olive oil and black pepper into the quinoa. Then stir in the vegetables.
- Stir in a couple of table spoons of pesto into the salad. Taste and add a bit more if necessary.
- Serve the salad with some chicken on top and drizzled with some more pesto.
Notes
Nutrition
More Chicken Salad Recipes
I love making chicken salads and here are some more recipe on Searching for Spice that you might like!
Or why not try my black quinoa and chicken salad?
I love salads and even have a whole recipe collection for main course salad recipes. Do check it out if you're looking for meal planning inspiration.
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make these leftover roast chicken and pesto salad or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
You can also stay up to date by following on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Jyothi (Jo)
I loooove quinoa, adding pesto makes it so flavorful and delicious! This got to be the best kind of salad. Healthy, light and so comforting!
Corina Blum
Thanks Jyothi! I'm so pleased you like it - definitely one of the best kinds of salad!
Julie
Pesto in salads is so good -- what a great reminder to use it on all veggies. This looks like the perfect quick and easy weeknight dinner.
Corina Blum
Exactly! And we all need easy weeknight dinner, right?!
Daniela
Yum! I love a good quinoa dish! Thanks so much for sharing :). Looks really good!
Corina Blum
Thanks Daniela! I'm so pleased you like it.
Charity
Pesto is one of our favorite quick dinner tricks. Loving the idea of using it in a quinoa salad!
Corina Blum
Thanks Charity! I actually think I need to make pesto more often as it's just so useful for making other ingredients into a quick and tasty meal.
Loreto Nardelli
I live pesto and ypu are right it is so much more than just a oasta sauce. It gives chicken such depth and flavor and this quinoa is amazin. I love that it is so good for you, easy to prepare, and tastes so good with veggies and chicken! Well done and good use of leftover chicken!
Corina Blum
Thanks Loreto! Pesto is just so versatile, isn't it!
Amy
Wow! What a vibrant plate! This is such a great easy dinner -- and super bonus points for how healthy it is! Would love to make this sometime! 😀
Corina Blum
That's great Amy! I find it's one of those recipes that is so great to have on hand for when I have any chicken leftovers.
Michelle
How have I never thought to add pesto to quinoa?! This is such a great idea will definitely be trying this soon. Thanks for the inspiration x
Corina Blum
I know, I hadn't thought of doing it for ages either! It's so good though and can easily be adapted to go with other grains instead of quinoa.
Marisa F. Stewart
And here I thought I was the only one who liked to put pesto on quinoa. Frankly I like to add pesto to just about everything. The chicken salad looks so good and what's better yet is that it's good for you too. Good recipe.
Corina Blum
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loves a pesto and quinoa salad!
Rachel
I feel like this recipe is my spirit animal. Three things I always seem to have in my fridge; chicken, quinoa and pesto. Really good and healthy recipe. Thanks for posting!
Corina Blum
Aw thanks Rachel! No excuse not to try it out then!
Veena Azmanov
Love all the healthy options to making such an amazing and delicious Salad. Dinner with Salad is always a welcome and this tasty salad looks like a perfect filler too.
Corina Blum
oh yes, the salad was lovely! It was definitely sweeter and a bit different from the salads I usually make but still good.
Anna | Serving Dumplings
Never tried quinoa and pesto, it's on my to-make list. I will definitely try it!
Corina Blum
I think it goes really well! I hope you like it too.
Ceri Jones
Pesto is one of my favourite flavours. Must be all that raw garlic. Love the sound of combining it with quinoa and chicken
Corina Blum
Thanks Ceri! I love the raw garlic too. In fact, I love anything garlicy and eat such a lot of it!
Mandy
Pesto is such a winner isn't it - everyone here loves it and it sounds like a great use for leftovers from a roast.
Corina Blum
Oh it is! I make lots of different kinds of pesto too (depending on what ingredients I have) so it's not always the same and it's great with bought pesto as well.
Anna
Such a healthy and tasty looking meal! Love the idea of combining quinoa and pesto, why have I never done it before?!? Looking forward to trying it out soon!
Corina Blum
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I do think quinoa and pesto is an overlooked combination!
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This looks so light, fresh and tasty!
Corina Blum
Thanks Cat! It's such an easy way of making a meal with leftover chicken too, and easy to adapt as well.
Gloria
This just reminds me it has been a long time since I had pesto. What a great way to enjoy it. We are quinoa lovers. This is the perfect dinner salad. Hearty and delicious.
Corina Blum
Thanks Gloria! I don't use quinoa enough. I like it but it's one of those ingredients that the rest of the family are not too fussed about so I only cook with it occasionally.
MyKabulKitchen
Looks healthy and light! Love the new blog layout and beautiful pictures Corina 🙂
Corina
Thank you! I'm always trying to improve my pictures and as I do a lot of the cooking for my blog in the evening when it's dark it can be hard. Glad you like them.
hijackedbytwins
I love quinoa and love finding new recipes that uses it. This looks and sounds delicious. I have pinned onto my must try board. Thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare x
Corina
I hope you enjoy it! It's definitely one of my favourite recent recipes.
Farrah
I lovelovelove pesto, so this is right up my alley! <3 Can't wait to try making this! :]!
Corina
I hope you like it!
Lawyer Loves Lunch
We've recently renewed our commitment to healthy eating and this chicken and quinoa dish fits the bill! Love the pesto addition!
Corina
Thank you! We're trying really hard to eat healthily at the moment too. It's not always easy but at least when it tastes really good like this it makes it worth it.
Honest Mum (@HonestMummy)
That looks delicious. We adore quinoa here too! I am so sad I can't eat pesto. Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays
Corina
Such a shame you can't enjoy pesto! I love it.
Eb Gargano
Mmm I love pesto and I really love the idea of combining pesto with quinoa! This salad sounds delicious. Such a good way of using up leftover roast chicken.
Corina
Thank you!
Strength and Sunshine
MMM, yes, perfect easy healthy dinner!
Corina
Indeed!
petra08
I love quinoa and with pesto, chicken and green veg?! It sounds perfect! I have the same roast chicken dilema as you and end up, most of the time making it very traditional. I love the way you transformed the left overs to a whole new dish! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Corina
Thank you Petra!