pesto chicken salad sandwich;

Originally posted November 7, 2016. Updated for clarity and content on August 29, 2020.

Are you tired of coming up with new recipes every week? Are you feeling stuck in a rut? Well, this recipe for a Pesto Chicken Salad sandwich is everything good on a plate. It’s healthful, delicious, and easy. The inspiration for this recipe is actually super nostalgic for me. So nostalgia + laziness = Chicken Pesto Sandwich apparently! But at least it’s tasty math! That’s math I can get behind.

Anyway, enough of my nerd-isms. How about I explain the equation? Basically, we had some chicken around, but not much else, and I’ve been running on little sleep for a while now. I ran down the list of ingredients we have in our fridge and landed on…pesto. Which meant I wouldn’t have to go to the grocery store. Win!

Sure, chicken and pesto together isn’t exactly novel. But I think most people think pasta. My mind went instead to these Chicken Pesto sandwiches that my family used to get at an Italian shop in New Jersey. Unfortunately, Ninette’s has since closed, but we used to drive out of the way to get these delicious chicken pesto sandwiches. Creamy and delicious pesto chicken salad sandwiched between fresh focaccia and topped with sundried tomatoes. It was so yum. We used to make excuses to go pick up my mom or meet her at work since this shop was near her work at the time. And they were lunches I always looked forward to.

We never even bothered to order anything else at Ninette’s. Even if it was all four of us, we’d just order four pesto chicken salad sandwiches. And that’s a big deal. My family never orders the same meal twice at the same table. We’d rather all order something different so we can try more dishes. (We all happily share and eat off each other’s plates.) But getting these pesto chicken salad sandwiches was so rare and far between. They were a weekday special and only available on Tuesdays. We had to go on the right day, at lunchtime, in the middle of the week. But man, were they tasty.

In terms of ingredients, I prefer to use greek yogurt over sour cream or mayonnaise because firstly, it’s healthier. Sour cream and mayonnaise aren’t bad for you, but I like that greek yogurt has more protein in it. For this recipe, I also like that Greek yogurt has a neutral flavor. That way the pesto and sundried tomato flavor really shines through. While Ninette’s sandwich had sundried tomatoes on the bread itself, I’ve just gone ahead and incorporated them into the chicken salad. It’s easier, and I like adding a few more for bright pops of color and flavor throughout.

I’m so happy with how this recipe for pesto chicken salad turned out. It really has that nostalgic flavor even if it’s a little different than the Ninette’s original. I was super excited to dig into this, and especially pleased with the simplicity of the recipe. Ninette’s used homemade focaccia, slightly toasted. And let me tell you, fresh bread makes a sandwich. If you’re looking for homemade, warm-from-the-oven, little Italian shop feel, check out this homemade focaccia recipe! But I’ve slapped this recipe on challah, wheat bread, and potato buns. It’s great on any fresh bread.

You can also serve this recipe hot, cold, or lukewarm. Throw on some sliced tomato and lettuce to add a few more veggies as well. Serve with chips, fruit, or warm tomato soup. This Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich is good no matter what way you serve it! I make this often, and it’s great as school lunch or on the go easy work lunch. There’s really no downside to this recipe–what are you waiting for? Make this pesto chicken salad right now!

Secrets to Success

• You can make fresh shredded chicken in the crock pot for a set and forget meal. Or if that seems like too much commitment, then grab a rotisserie chicken from the grocery.
• Strike a balance between chunks of sundried tomatoes, and cutting them too small. I think a little smaller than pea-sized is my ideal.
• Use fresh bread! If you have the time and patience, use fresh focaccia. There’s nothing like it.

Looking for other soups and salads? Check out these recipes:

• For a rich and delicious lunch, try pairing this Pesto Chicken Salad Sandwich with broccoli cheddar soup.
• Try the everyday thanksgiving sandwich for a decadent Thanksgiving Leftover option!
• In the mood for brunch? Try this chicken and waffles sandwich.