This Copycat Sweetgreen Chicken Pesto Parm recipe is chocked full of healthy, whole ingredients like warm quinoa, crisp spinach, tender roasted broccoli, salty parmesan flakes, fresh tomatoes, and crispy za'atar breadcrumbs that will not leave you hungry!
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Dinner, Salad
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Keyword: healthy salads, salads, weeknight dinner
Servings: 6people
Calories: 356kcal
Ingredients
For the salad:
1cupbroccoli stems cut
1tablespoonolive oil
2cupsquinoa
¼teaspoonred pepper flakes
6cupsspinach
2cupscooked chicken breastchopped
½cupgrape or cherry tomatoeshalved
¼cupparmesan shaved
¼cupza'atar breadcrumbs
favorite hot sauce
For the pesto vinaigrette:
1cupbasil leaves
1cupparsley leaves
2Tablespoonsred wine vinegar
1Tablespoondijon mustard
2clovesgarlic
½teaspoonsalt
¼teaspoonblack pepper
½cuphigh quality olive oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400˚F. Rinse cut broccoli florets and wipe dry with a paper towel. Toss with olive oil, salt, and red pepper flakes. Roast for 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to package directions.
Make the vinaigrette by putting all of the ingredients except for the olive oil in a food processor. Process on high until all of the ingredients are in tiny pieces. Slowly add in the olive oil and continue processing on high until dressing is thin.
When broccoli and quinoa are both done, create salad bowl, starting with spinach as a base. Add chicken, broccoli, quinoa, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and za'atar breadcrumbs. Drizzle pesto vinaigrette and hot sauce over the salad and enjoy!
Notes
To make za'atar breadcrumbs, see this recipe. Make ahead: This salad can easily be made ahead and eaten with all of the ingredients cold. If I'm making it for the whole family over the next couple of days, I'll store the ingredients separately and assemble when we're ready to eat. Otherwise, store the salad (minus the breadcrumbs) in an airtight container. Put the dressing in a mason jar separately as well.