This cashew pesto chicken is easy to make, dairy-free, versatile and packed full of flavour! Serve it with baked sweet potatoes, brown rice, in wraps, or on homemade pizza for a quick and healthy meal!
These days have been super busy in our house with our 3 month old. I can tell that he’s trying to establish a routine for himself, but I’m finding that he still naps at random times and expects me to hold him the majority of the day. I know he’s not going to be little forever so of course I give in.
Sighhhh.
He is getting better though and becoming a little bit more independent as the days go by, so there IS hope! These days he’ll at least let me put him in his crib to kick around a bit while I get some things done. Baby steps!!!
As you might know, I love experimenting with new recipes, but due to my lack of time to make elaborate meals with a busy baby, I try to keep meal prep super simple. One of my favourite dishes to prepare these days is this cashew pesto chicken.
It is SO easy. And the smell of the pesto…oh my goodness…mouthwatering!
I’ve literally memorized this recipe because I’ve made it so many times already and there’s few enough ingredients in this recipe that you can remember them all after making it only a couple of times!
I love making up a large batch of shredded chicken and doubling the recipe for pesto so that I can cook once and eat twice. Huge time saver and one of my secrets for eating healthier in a pinch throughout the week.
I like to boil the chicken breasts in water or broth and then shred the chicken. It’s my favourite way to make shredded chicken in a pinch and there’s literally no prep time involved.
I’ll generally use one half of the pesto chicken for homemade pesto chicken pizzas and the other half for these stuffed pesto chicken sweet potatoes.
Or another option is to make a double batch of shredded chicken and incorporate pesto with one half to make one of the meals mentioned above and use the rest of the chicken to make these chicken enchiladas. Three different meal options … for less than 30 minutes of prep time. A-mazing!
This pesto recipe can also be used on salmon or in this pesto asparagus quiche. Is this not the most versatile meal EVER?!
This particular version of pesto is also dairy free, but there’s so much flavour packed in this stuff with the garlic and basil, you don’t even miss the parm cheese. I swear this recipe is so good, it’s been on my weekly menu rotation for months now.
Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do!
Happy meal prepping!
More chicken recipes
- Pesto Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
- Buffalo Chicken Meal Prep
- Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Lemon Chicken Soup
- Curried Pumpkin Chicken Soup
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Cashew Pesto Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded chicken about 1 lb chicken breasts
- 1 batch dairy-free pesto
Instructions
- To make shredded chicken: Place chicken breasts into pot of rapidly boiling water for 20 minutes or until cooked and no longer pink inside. The water should be covering the chicken breasts by about an inch or so. Once chicken breasts are cooked through, place in a large bowl and shred using two forks.
- Meanwhile place all ingredients for pesto in a food processor and blend until a paste like consistency is formed.
- Mix pesto in with shredded chicken until evenly distributed. Serve in wraps, with rice on pizza or sweet potatoes!
Notes
Nutrition
Love this recipe? Pin for later!
We love this recipe with sweet potato and so does my 11mth old. Can you freeze the pesto chicken?
I’m so happy that your family has been enjoying the recipe! Thanks for the feedback:) You can definitely freeze the pesto chicken. It’s a great recipe for meal prep!
I have been missing pesto for a long time now since I can’t do dairy. I am SOOO going to try this. Looks fabulous!
Thanks so much Mikki! It’s really quite good. I don’t miss the cheese at all! Hope you enjoy the recipe :)
What a gorgeous pesto dish! I love pesto– this looks incredible. Gorgeous photos too!
Thanks Julie — I’m a huge fan of pesto too!
Cashew pesto?! Sign me UP. I would honestly never think to use cashews in pesto but that sounds so good. Saving this recipe for sure!
Yes, it’s so delicious! Cashews are my favourite nuts, so I like to incorporate them into everything!!!
Sounds like a great combo! I just emailed this off to my parents, I think this would be something they’d love. My mom likes cashew chicken salad and my dad needs some new lunch ideas.
Thanks for sharing Sarah — hope your parents enjoy the recipe!
Cashews, pesto, and chicken are a great trio. Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks so much Kelly! Let me know if you try it out!
What a creative idea! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Amy — it’s my pleasure :)
This looks so yummy and would be delicious on a baked sweet potato!!
Thanks Carrie! Having it on a baked sweet potato is my favourite way to eat this chicken! So good!
This would be an easy weeknight meal for my husband and son. Thanks for sharing!
I’m definitely into putting this on a baked sweet potato! Awesome recipe :)
Thanks Abbey! You totally should — it’s delicious!
Oh my GAWSH. This look so good!
Thanks Annmarie! It’s as tasty as it looks!