May 14, 2018

Enjoy this Mediterranean-inspired chicken salad stuffed into a pita with your favorite veggies.

 

Chicken salad is a classic Southern standby, a reliably popular food for workday lunches, tailgate parties, church potlucks or family gatherings. This fresh chicken salad in pita bread uses Mediterranean flavors and it is easy to make. Nonfat Greek yogurt gives it the creaminess of traditional mayonnaise-based chicken salad but without the fat and calories.

Use chopped rotisserie chicken or low-sodium canned chicken as a time saver — though chicken that you’ve baked, boiled or grilled yourself will reduce the sodium. Add more of your favorite vegetables to help reach the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Recipe: Pesto Chicken Salad Pitas
Author: Kidseatright.org
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 servings
This recipe keeps the creaminess of traditional chicken salad, but substitutes Greek yogurt for mayonnaise, cutting fat and calories. Pesto gives it a punch of flavor.
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons prepared pesto
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup grated carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
  • 4 mini whole-wheat pita rounds, split in half
  • 1 cup baby spinach leaves
Instructions
  1. Combine yogurt, pesto, lemon juice and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until well blended.
  2. Add chicken and carrots. Stir to combine.
  3. Stuff each pita evenly with spinach leaves and chicken mixture.
  4. Add in other vegetables, if desired.
Serving size: 1 stuffed pita Calories: 259 Fat: 9 grams Saturated fat: 2 grams Carbohydrates: 19 grams Sugar: 2 grams Sodium: 542 milligrams Fiber: 3 grams Protein: 27 grams
Notes
To reduce sodium, use chicken that you’ve baked, boiled or grilled in place of store-bought rotisserie chicken or canned chicken.

Dinner Lunch Weight Management