Since becoming empty nesters our whole way of eating has changed. When it’s just two of you, the temptation is to eat out a lot. But when we do, we don’t feel or look our best…in other words, we get fat. Plus eating out takes it’s toll on the wallet! Fortunately we have found a way to achieve quick and easy while keeping our meals healthy and delicious. So…salad loving couples with little time to prep and cook, this complete meal Caprese Chicken Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette is for you. It’s delicious, healthy, oh so pretty and takes minutes to assemble… and no cooking required!
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The Salad:
This recipe includes the classic Caprese ingredients: basil, heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, but then we add a side of chicken to round out the meal. Pretty isn’t it? And once again you use the ever convenient rotisserie chicken to keep it simple. But if you want to cook the chicken yourself you can use the same method I use in this salad (<–click)
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The Basil Vinaigrette:
This dressing is so simple: whisk together olive oil and store bought pesto. Yup, that’s it. Now if you want to make your own pesto, far be it from me to discourage you. Find my recipe here. Need more ideas for what to do with that leftover pesto? Click here for pasta, here for pizza and here for grilled cheese!
Lovely, Simple, Romantic…
It doesn’t get better than that…unless of course clean up is a cinch, and it is! No pots or pans to wash. Perfection!
The Recipe: Caprese Chicken Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette!
What you need: olive oil, pesto, a good knife!
Caprese Chicken Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette!
Prep
Total
Yield 2 servings
A beautiful assembly only complete meal salad! Made in minutes and gluten free.
Ingredients
3 Tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons store bought or home made basil pesto
3-4 cups organic baby greens
2 breasts from a rotisserie chicken, sliced
2 tomatoes ( we use 1 yellow and 1 red heirloom)
1/2 cup fresh mozzarella packed in water (we used the kind that comes in little ovals but you could also cut it into cubes)
1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Whisk together olive oil and pesto
Plate greens, cheese, tomatoes, and pine nuts
Whisk dressing again, toss salad with basil vinaigrette, add chicken to plate
Pour a little vinaigrette over chicken, season with sea salt and pepper if desired, serve!
Courses Lunch or dinner
Cuisine Italian
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What a flavorful salad! So yummy! I could make this every week!
Thanks Sara! Since becoming empty nesters we are all about the easy meals!
This chicken caprese salad looks so fresh and delicious! I love all the flavors you have going on here and I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Elaine. It’s a fun one!
What a beautiful looking salad. So much colour and so simple to make too. Yum!
Absolutely delicious. A recipe like from an Italian restaurant.
Thanks! I appreciate that!
Such a gorgeous salad! I love that it comes together easily as well. We buy rotisserie chicken pretty frequently and it’s a great way to use those up!
The most convenient thing ever! And since we now cook for two it’s so much easier than roasting our own:)
I love chicken salad and this looks so delicious!! Loved the pesto Vinaigretten!! Beautifully presented too!
Thanks Soniya!
You make the prettiest salads! The basil vinagrette sounds yummy!
Why thanks Shelby. I am glad you think they are pretty! I try!
I really need to be eating more dinner salads now that spring has sprung. thanks Linda! These are gorgeous as always!
Thanks Melissa. It’s perpetual spring in California, which as a food blogger makes it tough. I never know when to start posting spring recipes 🙂
This looks so fresh and perfect for warmer days ahead!