Weeknight Cooking

Two-Pea Pesto Chicken Salad

September  1, 2014

For those nights when you get home hungry, stressed, and impatient, Hangry is here to help. Each Monday, Kendra Vaculin will share quick, exciting meals that anyone can make -- whether you're in your first apartment or feeding a hangry family.

Today: Instead of spending time to roast a whole chicken, use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to create a dish that's all your own.

Shop the Story

This is the first Hangry post to feature meat, which took a concerted effort on my part. I am definitely a carnivore -- a mountain of pulled pork once saved my life, and if a pizza doesn't have pepperoni I’m not 100% sure what it’s doing in front of me --  but I usually don’t stock animals in my fridge. Meat takes longer to cook  (I’m hangry, after all), and I have a little bit of PTSD from my 20th birthday dinner party when I burned 10 stuffed chicken breasts all at once. It was, if nothing else, really impressive. Also a disaster. For these reasons, when in my own kitchen, I tend to veer pretty seriously in the direction of vegetables.

With one exception: rotisserie chicken

If you have the time and will to roast your own whole chicken, you are beautiful and inspiring. You have really lovely dishtowels in your kitchen, probably, and a big bay window, and you grow your own herbs. Maybe you’re my mother? What I know for sure is that I am not among your ranks. I dream of the day that I will be more like you, but for now I go to the store and buy rotisserie chickens in warm plastic containers. 

The reason a whole cooked chicken is so awesome is that it acts as a jumping off point for an entirely new recipe. Eating one plain, while technically possible, is just so silly if you think about how close you are -- you have a chicken in your hand! -- to a myriad of other meal options, from salads and sandwiches to soups and pot pies. This herby dish with two kinds of peas is seriously addictive -- the kind you roast a chicken for, if you’re into that sort of thing.

More: Since you didn't cook the chicken, you have time to make your own pesto for the salad.

Two-Pea Pesto Chicken Salad

1 fully cooked rotisserie chicken (or a whole roast chicken)
1 cup Greek yogurt
6 ounces homemade or store-bought basil pesto
1 heaping cup frozen peas, thawed
1 1/2 cup chopped snap peas

See the recipe (and save and print it) here.

What's your favorite way to dress up pre-cooked or leftover chicken? Tell us in the comments!

Photos by Mark Weinberg

Order Now

The Dynamite Chicken cookbook is here! Get ready for 60 brand-new ways to love your favorite bird. Inside this clever collection by Food52 and chef Tyler Kord, you'll find everything from lightning-quick weeknight dinners to the coziest of comfort foods.

Order Now

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • ortolan
    ortolan
  • Elizabeth Machin
    Elizabeth Machin
  • BR95510
    BR95510
  • Kate Selner
    Kate Selner
  • Marie Leon
    Marie Leon
A fan of female driven comedies, a good beat, your hair today, and making foods for friends.

12 Comments

ortolan April 26, 2016
Make chicken stock or go one steps further and make chicken soup! The poached chicken you make as a result is the best chicken salad base of any kind! And it takes about 3 more seconds of effort than using a rotisserie chicken.
 
Elizabeth M. April 26, 2016
BR95510 I don't see anyone making comments about mental illness. I certainly didn't. And do not buy rotisserie chickens or any convenience foods but cook from scratch.
 
BR95510 April 26, 2016
I was speaking to the author of the article who said: "Meat takes longer to cook (I’m hangry, after all), and I have a little bit of PTSD from my 20th birthday dinner party when I burned 10 stuffed chicken breasts all at once."

Our Veterans who have served our country and are now battling with PTSD would hardly see a chicken crisis as being similar. It's an insensitive remark.

 
Elizabeth M. April 26, 2016
Ah I see what you mean. Although I'm sure it was unintentional, I can see it would be an insensitive remark to those who suffer from or have loved ones suffering from PTSD.
 
BR95510 April 26, 2016
Please don't make light-hearted comments about mental illness.

And I agree with Kate's comments. Rotisserie chicken is just plain nasty. Roast your own when you have time and freeze it in the portions needed for recipes like these.
 
Elizabeth M. April 26, 2016
Ooh, some of you are so mean. We all have to cut corners sometimes even if its tuna from a can when we need to grab something quick.
This lady is just trying to be helpful and, yes when I try this recipe out I will cook my own chicken because I have the time to do it!
 
Kate S. June 17, 2015
I roast my own whole chickens because they taste way better than any rotisserie options that are over-cooked, and over-salted. It's cheaper overall and far more practical. And it isn't because I have lovely kitchen towels, a bay window and grow my own herbs. Can we please have some articles that don't resort to cheap generalizations to fill space?
 
Sarah V. November 4, 2015
I don't think your the "hangry" target audience, Kate...I too, roast if I have time, and I dont think I own a kitchen towel. But, I definitely grab a rotisserie shamelessly if I am hangry because I am in a worked-way-too-late-and-don't-have-a-car-to-stock-up-on-groceries-ever.
 
Marie L. June 15, 2015
@luxe_surfaces we LOVE eating with our hands! This sandwich looks fab and needs the backdrop of one of our fabulous digital wall coverings - food/fashion photo shoot?
 
Ann June 15, 2015
Rotisszeri chicken cooled, mayo, curry powder, golden raisins, must be golden and slivered almonds, mix together and serve on sliced baguette. I serve this at all my lady type parties and it is always a big hit, and so easy!
 
Cecily June 15, 2015
Shred left over rotisseri chicken . Saute onions ,add Tandoori spice powder (according to your spice level ) add fresh ginger and garlic paste . Mix it all together . Add salt as neede . You can eat as is or make it a filling for samosas . Buy the samosa wraps from Indian or Middle eastern store . Enjoy
 
frog September 3, 2014
Another "recipe" from someone who can't cook for someone who can't cook.