5-Minute Canned Chicken Salad Recipe - Butter with a Side of Bread (2024)

Ingredients for making Chicken Salad from Canned Chicken

Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:

• Diced cooked chicken
• Diced apple
• Sliced grapes
• Sliced celery
• Mini cucumber
• Raisins
• Plain yogurt (or sour cream)
• Mayonnaise
• Dashes of salt, pepper, dried parsley and onion powder, to taste

How to Make Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken

1. Prepare fruits and vegetables, slicing and/or dicing as needed.
2. Combine everything in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.
3. Use this recipe in a sandwich, on crackers, as filling for lettuce wraps, or on a bed of lettuce. I’ve been known to just eat it with a fork too- it’s THAT good!
4. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Will last for several days!

Ways to Serve Canned Chicken Salad

You can serve chicken salad on regular bread or croissants for sandwiches. I also love chicken salad served on crackers or in a lettuce wrap, for a low-carb option!

Is chicken salad healthy?

This recipe is packed full of protein, fruits and vegetables, so yes, it is a healthy food option. I even substituted plain yogurt in for half of the traditional mayonnaise which adds even more protein and cuts down on fat and calories. I love adding the diced cucumber for an additional vegetable source, plus the crunch is delicious. If you want to make this recipe even more healthy, serve it on whole grain high fiber bread, or serve it on leaves of lettuce, as a lettuce wrap.

Should you rinse canned chicken?

You can rinse canned chicken, but it’s not necessary. If you do opt to rinse it, make sure you strain out the additional water.

Does canned chicken need to be cooked?

Canned chicken is already cooked and ready to serve! It’s tender, juicy and perfect for chicken salad.

How can I make canned chicken better?

Canned chicken is often combined with other items to make it taste less plain. In this case we toss it with a variety of other ingredients, like celery, Craisins and apples, then mix it with a fantastic dressing to add even more flavor!

Can this canned chicken salad recipe be made a day ahead?

Yes, you can make this recipe a day ahead of when you plan to serve it. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I actually think day old chicken salad tastes even better as it has had a chance for the flavors to meld! Just give your salad a good stir and if the chicken has absorbed the moisture, you might want to add in a bit more mayonnaise or plain yogurt to compensate.

How long does chicken salad last with canned chicken?

Chicken salad will stay good for 5-7 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. My favorite airtight containers are Snapware. I’ve found that when I use Snapware, the foods generally stay fresh for at least 3-4 days longer than when you use regular tupperware.

Can you freeze chicken salad?

Theoretically, yes, you can freeze chicken salad but know that the texture will suffer once thawed out and served. The mayonnaise can separate slightly, so it’d be a good idea to stir thoroughly and then add in a tad more fresh mayo prior to serving. The cucumber and celery will lose much, if not all of their crunch once they’re thawed as well. So yes, you can freeze this recipe, but really it tastes so much better if eaten fresh!