Pesto Chicken Salad

Farmstead Meal 012

This fresh, simple salad brings together pasture-raised chicken from our farm, lettuce and pesto from Artesian Farm, and butter and Monterey Jack cheese from Moo-ville. Finished with heirloom tomatoes and a light lemon vinaigrette sweetened with Rubee's raw honey.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Pesto Chicken

• 1½–2 lbs pasture-raised Chicken Breast Tenders
• ⅓ cup Artesian Farm Pesto
• 2 tbsp Moo-ville Butter
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Salad

• 1 container Artesian Farm Lettuce Mix
• 2–3 heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1 cup Moo-ville Monterey Jack Cheese, freshly shredded

For the Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp Rubee's Raw Honey
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken. Pat the chicken breast tenders dry and season lightly with salt and black pepper.
2. Cook in Butter. Melt Moo-ville Butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook approximately 3–5 minutes per side, adjusting the heat to prevent the butter from burning. Cook until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
3. Slice and Toss with Pesto. Remove the chicken from the skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice into bite-sized pieces, then toss with Artesian Farm Pesto until evenly coated. Add a small splash of warm water if needed to distribute the pesto.
4. Make the Vinaigrette. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Rubee's Raw Honey, salt, and black pepper until combined.
5. Build the Salad. Divide the lettuce among four plates. Top with heirloom tomatoes, sliced pesto chicken, and freshly shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
6. Serve. Drizzle lightly with honey-lemon vinaigrette just before serving.

Farmstead Tip

Fresh pesto is best added at the end. Cook your chicken, slice it, and toss it with pesto just before serving. That little step helps keep the fresh basil flavor and color we're after.

Meet the Maker: Artesian Farm

Located in New Buffalo, Michigan, Artesian Farm grows fresh greens and herbs year-round using indoor vertical hydroponic farming. Their lettuce and basil, along with pesto made from their fresh basil, bring another local food connection to this week's Farmstead Meal.

Local Farms. Local Makers. Real Food.