This pesto chicken salad is a protein packed recipe to change up your usual sandwich routine!
This post is sponsored by Fit Approach and Manitoba Harvest. I was not compensated for my time.
Howdy friends!
Unfortunately, I don't have any scary tales or spooky snapshots to share, since I ended up binge watching scary movies at my brother's rather than looking for my Danny Zuko for the night.
But lucky for you, I have something even better!
Thanks to my lovely SPA Sisters and Manitoba Harvest, not only did I get to try my first hemp seeds on for size, but I get to give YOU your very own haul as well!
I am one to usually crack open a can of tuna, plop it on a bed of spinach with some avocado and call it a meal. I knew tossing some hemp seeds on top of this fare wouldn't fly for my first hemp seed experience.
Since I was already in love with Lee's 5 Minute Pesto recipe and had a withering basil plant that was in dire need of some love, I figured it was time for these little seeds to show me what they're made of.
Since hemp seeds are loaded with omega-3's and protein, this pesto-fied salad is even more satisfying and addicting. Because, everything pesto touches is unofficially sacred.
Pesto Chicken Salad
- Yield: 1 sandwich 1x
Ingredients
- ½ cup chicken breast, cooked and chopped
- 2 tablespoons pesto*
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Pesto:
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts (or hemp seeds)
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- juice of a lemon
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- To prepare pesto, add all ingredients to the bowl of a small blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth.
- In a small bowl, add chopped chicken and tomatoes.
- Add 2 tablespoons of prepared pesto, and stir to combine.
- Serve atop a salad, in a lettuce wrap, or in your favorite bread of choice.
- Category: Sandwiches, lunch
You could even make this with leftover turkey once T-Day comes around, which will be sooner than we know it. And you best believe I will be upping my tuna game with a dollop of this magic thrown into it.
And now it's time to get your hemp love on. Just enter for your chance to win a bag of your own Hemp Hearts with the giveaway below. Good luck!
Open to US and Canada residents
One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Manitoba Harvest through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner.
Make it a great day!
rachel @ athletic avocado
This chicken salad sounds fab! I love pesto!!
Kaci
This sounds delicious! I looked for hemp hearts in my grocery store yesterday because my sample from a race expo is almost gone but no luck 🙁
Farrah
I usually use em' in smoothies, but throwing it into a salad is such a good idea! 😀
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite
This looks so yummy and full of flavor!!
Julie Waldron
I would use them in smoothies.
Tiffany @ The Chi-Athlete
UH -----------------> YUMMY! WOW.
rebecca
I love the idea of adding hemp hearts to chix salad! yum! I'm posting my hemp recipe later this week 🙂
Emily Cooper
Can't wait to see what you came up with! 🙂
Liz
I would use hemp hearts with oats, almond butter, and dates to make breakfast bites!
Emily Cooper
Make sure you send me some when you do 😉
Aggie @ Aggie's Kitchen
I love that you added hemp hearts to a chicken salad, genius! What a great way to get some extra goodness in there.
Caroline Vieyra
I'd love these in a salad <3
Joan Kubes
The first this I would make is this recipe for Pesto Chicken Salad.
Rachel @ Delicious Balance
Oh yummy! I love hemp hearts! They are such a great way to add protein and healthy fat. I would use my hemp hearts in my morning smoothies!
Maggie Smith
I'd put them in my oatmeal!
Megan bickham
I've never even heard of them, but now I think I'll be looking for them to try!
wen budro
I love the idea of adding them to a chicken salad. I would also add them to my morning oatmeal.
Elizabeth
Looks fabulous! I love pesto. ❤
Shannon L
Haha, clearly with the recipe you posted, that looks delicious.
Anne|Craving Something Healthy
I always sprinkle Hemp Hearts onto my overnight oats. Love the way you used them in pesto! My basil is 3ft tall, so I know what I'll be doing this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration!
Ronda
I would use these in salads and smoothies.
Brook
I'd put them in my smoothies and in oatmeal. Thanks for the giveaway!
Sara
I love using them in salads, though this chicken salad is a good idea too!
jeremy mclaughlin
Would use in smoothies.
Mary Beth Elderton
I would add them to our weekend fruit and oatmeal bowls.
Wehaf
I would add these to my oatmeal and put them in my trail mix.
lissa crane
I have so many ways I would love to use them, but the one I would be most excited about is in my morning smoothies or yogurts! I also would love to add them to my salads!
Melanie
I would put them in my morning yogurt!
Meghan B
These look great, I would try to incorporate them into salads and pastas!
Meghan B
These look great, I would try to incorporate them into salads and pasta salads
Donna Teller
I would probably sprinkle the hemp hearts on my yogurt.
brendawitherspoon@hotmail.com
we would use them in our smoothies
Fiona N
I also would use Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts to make smoothies and salads!
Thank You for the chance