Can you make chicken salad with canned chicken

Many people make a homemade chicken salad recipe using precooked rotisserie chicken, but finding a good canned chicken salad recipe can be difficult. The secret is to choose a good can of chicken and mix in ingredients that enhance the taste of the chicken, please the senses and mask any noticeable can taste.

Choose the Best Chicken

All canned chicken is not the same. Unlike tuna, there's no solid albacore or an equivalent to identify brands that use better meat. Yet, the chicken you use will make the difference between people coming back for more (and asking for your recipe) and chicken salad left uneaten on their plates.

Unless you've used canned chicken before and know your preferred brand, experiment with different cans of chicken, starting with chunked chicken breast, before you serve a canned chicken salad recipe to guests.

Drain chicken in the sink and scrape it out of the can onto a cutting board. If the chicken is in chunks, make them uniform in size or shred with a fork and spoon it into a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and mix. If it doesn't hold together well, add another tablespoon of mayonnaise. Continue this until the salad has the creaminess you prefer, and test its creaminess again after adding mix-ins.

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Homemade Chicken Salad Mix-Ins

There is a seemingly endless array of ingredients that enhance chicken salad, and the added flavor can help mask any can taste you might encounter. What goes best depends mostly on your taste. For example, celery adds a crunch that many people like against the creaminess of the salad, but if you hate celery, just leave it out. Ideas for mix-ins include:

• 1 cup red seedless grapes cut in half or quartered if very large. Chicken salad with grapes is probably the most popular homemade chicken salad recipe.
  
  
• 1 or 2 hard-boiled eggs chopped into small pieces
  
  
• l/2 cup diced green onion, including the dark green stems for color
  
  
• 1/2 cup sliced celery. To slice, turn the celery stalk over and cut thin, parallel slices up the stalk. This makes a pretty presentation and adds variety to the shapes of your mix-ins.
  
  
• 1/2 cup diced walnuts or pecans
  
  
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice to balance the sweetness of the grapes
  
  
• Salt and pepper to taste

Add a bit of curry powder for extra unusual flavor but not so much that it becomes curried chicken salad – about 1/2 teaspoon. You can use more of any ingredient you like, and double the amount of mix-ins if you want to stretch the salad to serve more people.

Coordinate a Side

An easy side that complements the chicken salad is a small bunch of grapes, placed simply on the plate. Other possible sides include:

• Fruit salad served in a small bowl on the plate so the juices don't run into the chicken salad
  
  
• Cucumber, onion and tomato salad with vinaigrette (use white onion, sliced, for variety)
  
  
• Toasted pita chips cut into wedges and served in a fanned arc next to the chicken salad
  
  

• Caprese salad

  –

  tomato and fresh mozzarella, sliced and arranged in an overlapping line on the plate next to the chicken salad. Add a drizzle each of olive oil and balsamic vinegar down the middle and top with fresh basil leaves.

Understand the Nutrition of Chicken Salad

Chicken is a very healthy meat, and chicken breast has less fat than darker cuts. One serving of Tyson Premium Chunk White Chicken in Water (about 5 servings in a 12.5 ounce can) has 13 grams of protein and no carbs, saturated fat or sugar.

One serving has 60 calories with only 10 calories from fat before you add the mayo. Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise adds 90 calories per tablespoon. Although they're fat calories, mayo is just oil and eggs with vinegar, salt, lemon juice and sometimes sugar.

With more people reporting sensitivity to wheat or dairy, it's helpful to know that chicken salad is gluten free (unless you serve it with pita or other bread made with wheat) and is dairy free (mayo doesn't include dairy products).

Easy Chicken Salad recipe that’s the BEST chicken salad ever! The simple, unique dressing adds great flavor. Shows how to make chicken salad with plain yogurt, apples, grapes, celery, cucumber, raisins and more! Great as chicken salad sandwiches or in lettuce as a wrap or as an appetizer on crackers.

Be sure to check out our updated collection of BEST EVER APPETIZER RECIPES here!

I’ve always loved chicken salad and have made it so many times over the years. I consider this recipe perfection! It’s very versatile, so feel free to add in or swap out whatever items you’d like. I give some ideas below.

Tips for a Quick Chicken Salad Recipe with Canned Chicken

Here are several tips on how to make this recipe come together QUICK!

• Use canned chicken! Just drain and you’re all set. This recipe requires 1 Costco sized can or two small cans.
• Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Just diced and refrigerate to cool, then proceed with recipe. {this can of course be done ahead of time!}
• Slice the celery and cucumber beforehand. Store them in a small container in the fridge until ready to use.
• Make the entire recipe ahead of time and let sit in a closed container in the fridge until ready to serve.

Add-Ins for Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken

This recipe is incredibly versatile! Here are my favorite mix ins:

• sliced almonds
• cashews
• chopped pecans
• pineapple tidbits
• water chestnuts
• Craisins
• dried cherries
• chopped sugar snap peas

How much chicken salad per person?

You should plan on allowing 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup chicken salad per person, depending on how you’re serving it. If you’re making this for mini croissants as an appetizer, you can even use just shy of 1/4 cup of chicken salad. If you’re serving chicken salad sandwiches for lunch or dinner, you’ll want to allow 1/2 a cup or even 1/3 cup per person.

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!

Recipe serves 6 with 1/2 cup portions.

5-Minute Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken

Easy 5-Minute Chicken Salad recipe that’s the BEST I’ve ever tasted! The simple dressing really makes it perfect. Chicken Salad recipe made with diced chicken, plain yogurt, apples, grapes, celery, cucumber, raisins and more! Great as chicken salad sandwiches or in lettuce as a wrap or on crackers.

5 from 14 votes

Course: chicken

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

• 2 cups diced cooked chicken
• 1/2 apple diced but not peeled
• 1/4 cup sliced grapes
• 2 stems of celery sliced
• 1 seedless mini cucumber
• rounded 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt or sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• dashes of salt pepper, dried parsley and onion powder, to taste

Instructions

• Prepare fruits and vegetables, slicing and/or dicing as needed.

• Combine everything in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.

• Use chicken salad 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!

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Will last for several days!

Video

Notes

How to make a chicken salad recipe faster: Here are several tips on how to make a recipe for chicken salad come together QUICK! Use canned chicken! Just drain and you’re all set. This recipe requires 1 Costco sized can or two small cans. Use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Just diced and refrigerate to cool, then proceed with recipe. {this can of course be done ahead of time!} Slice the celery and cucumber beforehand. Store them in a small container in the fridge until ready to use. Make the entire recipe ahead of time and let sit in a closed container in the fridge until ready to serve. What can you add to chicken salad? Chicken salad is incredibly versatile! Here are my favorite mix ins: sliced almonds, cashews, chopped pecans, pineapple tidbits, water chestnuts, Craisins, and dried cherries. Recipe serves 6 with 1/2 cup portions. 

Nutrition

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 89mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @jessicalovesbutter or tag #jessicalovesbutter!

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!

Canned Chicken Salad Recipe FAQ

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!

Can I use canned chicken instead of fresh?

Can I use canned chicken instead of chicken breast?

What is canned chicken good for?

Is canned chicken the same as regular chicken?