5-ingredient Pesto chicken and bean soup

Raise your hand if you're in need of one really good dinner recipe.

Now throw your hands in the air

Raise your hand if you want said recipe to also be healthy, easy, fast, cozy, filling, and delicious.

Wave 'em around like you just don't care

Normally, I'd save a recipe like this for an installment of Fast Friday but, you know what?  Forget that.  I have a feeling you might need this sooner -- need and want, to be clear. 

Say it with me: Now through your hands in the air / Wave 'em around like you just don't care

Is it just me or are post-vacation lists the absolute worst?  You've just spent a few days living it up, away from the daily grind, and then BAM!, it's back to reality.  Groceries, bills, unpacking, catching up on missed calls and emails, and umpteen loads of laundry.  Nothing out of the ordinary but, together, they seem overwhelming, especially when all you want to do is shower, change into sweats, and face-plant onto the couch.

As we neared home this past Sunday, after a weekend of wedding fun and travel, I created a mental to-do list.  It should come as no surprise that food was at the top of that list.  Also, not surprisingly, our hunger greatly outweighed any motivation to shop for groceries, so "food" quickly morphed into "dinnerrightnow", making it  a pantry or bust kind of night.

Like I said, I wanted a dinner with all of the things (i.e. healthy, easy, fast, cozy, filling, and delicious), which seemed like a pretty tall order.  Without much thinking beyond that, I grabbed what was within reach and worked as quickly as possible to throw together a meal.

There was no real reason for rushing like I did except for the fact that there was also a nearly-full package of Halloween Oreos in the pantry.  Oreos which would've surely become "dinner" when paired with a tall glass of milk.  That's the glorious/terrible thing about adult hunger -- it waits for nothing and no one.

Also waiting for nothing and no one is this fantastic 5-ingredient pesto, chicken and bean soup!

Get it while it's hot because I guarantee it won't be around for very long.

This soup is bursting with fresh flavors, all thanks to 5 simple ingredients.  Five!  The key to those ingredients is that they all pack a major punch!

Tender shredded chicken, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and hearty white beans nestled in a savory chicken broth that's kicked up a few notches to a new level of deliciousness.  A level that can only be achieved by the addition of pesto.  Herby, cheesy, and nutty... is there anything that pesto doesn't improve?!

5-ingredient pesto chicken and bean soup turned out to be the perfect answer to the borderline-panicky dinner question.  Warm, filling, healthy, fast, and mouthwateringly good.  The fact that it looked like Christmas in a bowl was an added bonus.

Speaking of the holidays, is it too soon to start making plans for Christmas break and winter vacation?  I didn't think so...

Now through your hands in the air / Wave 'em around like you just don't care


One year ago: Apple ring pancakes
Two years ago: Chicken fajitas
Three years ago: Chicken artichoke pesto panini
Four years ago: Pepperoni & broccoli stromboli


5-ingredient Pesto Chicken & Bean Soup
-makes 4 servings

1 heaping cup shredded cooked chicken
2 (14.5 ounce) cans white beans, drained & rinsed
1 (14.5 ounce) can low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup pesto
1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
Ground black pepper
Salt

In a large stock pot over medium heat, combine chicken, beans, broth, 2 cups water, pesto, and tomatoes.  Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until heated through.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Serve hot, possibly with crusty bread, and enjoy!