I don’t know about you but when I see the word “pesto” on a menu my heart skips a beat. This summer salad recipes seriously checks all the boxes – savory pesto, sweet, juicy strawberries and nutty arugula?? Swoon.

Pesto Chicken Salad with Strawberries and Arugula

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 2 large chicken breasts, cooked and chopped (grab pre-cooked chicken breasts for an even bigger time saver!)
• 4 cups arugula*
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 baby cucumbers, sliced
• 1 avocado, sliced

For the Pesto:

• 1 cup arugula
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 lime, juiced
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper (big pinch of each)

Directions

1. Pulse the ingredients for the pesto in a food processor until combined (add more oil if you like your pesto thinner).
2. Toss the chicken with half the pesto, then assemble the salad.
3. Drizzle the remaining pesto over everything, and mix well.

*Feel free to play around with the salad ingredients! Spinach or kale would be a great substitute here as well.