Canned chicken salad is one of those awesome low carb chicken recipes that comes together in a flash and tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen! It also happens to be one of the best healthy chicken recipes for the summer months.
You don’t see a ton of low carb recipes for canned chicken salad, but you’ll be glad you saw this one…
Making chicken salad is a convenient way to chow down on one of the best healthy recipes for lunch or afternoon snack and it makes meal prep is a breeze!
You don’t want to miss this one!
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What I Love About Canned Chicken Salad
Canned chicken salad is quite possibly the most incredible recipe of all time. It’s simple, convenient and most importantly it tastes Am-a-zing! There are so many positives, it’s hard to name them all but here are a few reasons why I love this canned chicken salad:
- It’s absolutely de-lish
- Easy to make
- Convenient
- Versatile
- Cost-effective
Salad Recipe Notes
This canned chicken salad recipe is SO easy to make there aren’t a lot of extra tips to ensure the recipe comes out great. (It’s one of those no-fail salad recipes) Really, the only thing you need to do is ensure that the chicken is completely drained and dried properly so there’s no water in your chicken salad.
Canned Chicken Breast Recipes Ingredient Notes
Making canned chicken salad is one of the easiest and tastiest ways to enjoy beautiful healthy lunches all week long! While the recipe does call for canned chicken, just about any chicken will do. Feel free to use leftover grilled chicken, baked chicken or even rotisserie chicken. The magic is in the recipe!
It’s also important to note that this is a dill pickle chicken salad recipe…
I know everyone has their own favorite brand of pickles and I’m not knocking it. BUT, you should check the label carefully to ensure there is no added sugar in the pickles you choose for this recipe. This’ll help keep your dish low carb.
You can save some carbs in this recipe if you substitute mayo for the Greek yogurt, but that’s purely a matter of taste and diet plan. Mayo is lower in carbs than Greek yogurt, but it’s higher in fat and calories.
Low Carb Lunch Storing Tips
Keeping canned chicken salad in a jar in the fridge is one of the best ways to store it. Just think of it as a mason jar salad recipe that’s ready for low carb lunch ideas when you are!
The main thing is to ensure that your chicken salad is protected from air, heat, and moisture, so almost any airtight container will do the trick!
Can You Freeze This?
Unfortunately, freezing chicken salad is not a good idea. Luckily, this recipe comes together so quickly it really doesn’t matter!
Healthy Lunch Serving Recommendations
Eating a chicken salad sandwich is the most common healthy lunch ideas but it’s definitely not the only way to enjoy chicken salad . Canned chicken salad tastes amazing on a bed of butter lettuce, rolled up in romaine or even in a healthy low carb wrap.
Here are a few other ways you can enjoy it too…
- On low carb crackers
- In a hollowed bell pepper
- Stuffed inside a low carb pita
- Filling a baked portobello mushroom cap
- On top of sliced tomatoes
- Make canned chicken salad quesadillas
Recipe Variations
Tweaking this canned chicken salad to suit your personal taste and diet plan is super simple! You can toss in a few pine nuts, sunflower seeds or even different spices to change the flavor of your dish:
Can I Add Herbs And Spices?
Absolutely! This is your canned chicken salad recipe so you can add any herbs and spices that suit your diet plan and peak your curiosity. Making curry chicken salad is a fantastic way to tease your senses and tempt your taste buds.
Of course, tarragon chicken salad is another popular favorite, but you can also add smoked paprika, basil or even cilantro for an incredible flavor boost. You won’t believe how good it is!
What Are Other Healthy Substitutes (Non-Mayo Based)?
Making non-mayo based chicken salad with Greek yogurt gives it a light, refreshing flavor with less fat and calories. Greek yogurt chicken salad is quite popular because it’s a full-flavored, protein-packed option that suits many diet plans.
Another incredibly healthy substitute for mayo in this canned chicken salad recipe is avocado. This nutrient-dense fruit is low in net carbs and it makes a creamy, delectable chicken salad that’s down-right yummy!
Is This Recipe Low Carb?
Yes! This is a low carb chicken salad recipe as long as you use dill pickles with no added sugar.
Canned chicken salad is one of the best low carb salads on the planet. It has an amazing flavor profile with plenty of veggies all married together in a cool, creamy base. With as few as 6 net carbs and a whopping 30 grams of protein per serving, it just doesn’t get any better than this!
How Can I Make This Healthier?
If you want an incredibly nutritious canned chicken salad, then turn it into creamy avocado chicken salad. The flavor is unbelievable! Making a chicken salad with cranberries offers some additional health benefits along with added flavor and texture.
How Can I Make This With More Vegetables?
Do you want more veggies? Music to my ears!! Making pesto chicken salad will do the trick and the flavor is out of this world! The best part is that pesto chicken salad is a non-mayo based chicken salad recipe and you can make it with canned chicken. Go for it!
Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 3 Cups Canned Chicken drained and dry, can substitute for cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 Cup Dill Pickles chopped
- 1/2 Cup Red Onion finely chopped
- 1/2 Cup Celery finely chopped
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 6 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Dill chopped
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt optional, depending on how salty your pickles are
Instructions
- Make sure your canned chicken is drained and completely dry.
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and stir to combine.
- Store in the fridge, and serve with butter lettuce, or on sandwiches.
Lindsey's Tips
- You can use whatever type of cooked chicken you prefer.
- If eating low carb foods, make sure your pickles don’t have sugar added!
- I prefer the taste of Greek yogurt to mayonnaise, to save some carbs, use mayonnaise.
Nutrition
More Chicken Salad Recipes
There are some amazing chicken salad recipes that can brighten up snacks and lunches while offering a nutrient-dense meal with a ton of flavor! As far as healthy chicken recipes go, chicken salad is one of the tastiest and most versatile around.
Canned chicken is pretty incredible but here are some other creative, full-flavored chicken salad recipes from my arsenal…
- Thai Chicken Salad
- Southwest Chicken Salad
- Mexican Chicken Salad
- Chicken Caesar Salad
- Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
Conclusion
Canned chicken salad is an easy way to brighten up meals and snacks with a myriad of low carb, protein-packed chicken recipes. It’s so easy to make and incredibly delicious, plus you can enjoy it in a variety of ways! You won’t believe how good this canned chicken salad is!
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments below. Enjoy!
