Pesto Chicken Salad

During the hottest part of the summer we tend to eat much lighter meals. If I don't have to cook it is even better. This is all about using some pre-cooked chicken. Other than warming the rolls in the air fryer for a couple of minutes this was a completely "cook free" dinner.

 All of these measurements are "about". I don't generally measure when I cook, but I am a pretty decent "eyeballer"

3 cups diced cooked chicken

1/2 red pepper, roasted and diced

1/2 small red onion,  minced

1 small tomato, seeded and diced

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup pesto (next time I will use a little more 2/3 cup maybe)

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/3 cup mayonnaise (I used about a half when I made mine and it was too much)

Mix the chicken, red pepper, onion and tomato in a medium size bowl. Add salt and pepper to your liking.

Put the mayo, pesto, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl, stir well then pour over the chicken mixture. Toss until thoroughly mixed together. Serve on a bed of greens. I would have preferred to serve it over spring greens, but TheHub prefers iceberg. There are some battles that are worth it. Chicken salad is not one of them. Chicken salad, a few black olives and a dinner roll was the complete meal. It was a perfect light summertime dinner.

I garnished with a few bits of diced tomatoes because when I went to pick basil from the yard, it was gone. I am guessing my resident groundhog found it. Basil would be a better garnish I think. Such is life! 

Library of Congress photo

For size reference the groundhog is holding a peach

They are cute little destructive buzzards