AMAZING 5-MINUTE CHICKEN SALAD

Published by Jessica on March 18, 2025

Popular 5-Minute Chicken Salad recipe made with pre-cooked chicken, diced apples, celery & grapes all in a simple dressing with yogurt & mayo, salt, pepper & onion powder.

chicken salad with grapes, apples and celery on a croissant

I’ve always loved chicken salad and have made it so many times over the years. I consider this recipe perfection- and it seems you do too! It’s been shared nearly 20,000 times since I posted it a decade ago. It’s very versatile, so feel free to add in or swap out whatever items you’d like.

Ideas for Making Chicken Salad SUPER FAST!

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.
OR 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.

apple, celery, grapes and raisins in a bowl for making chicken salad

Ingredients for making Chicken Salad from Canned Chicken

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

Diced cooked chicken– I usually use canned chicken or rotisserie chicken. Canned is faster since you don’t have to dice it!
Diced apple– leave the peel on for added vitamins
Sliced grapes
Sliced celery
Mini cucumber– I love the bright, fresh flavor and crunch a mini cucumber adds
Raisins
Plain yogurt (or sour cream)
Mayonnaise
Dashes of salt, pepper, dried parsley and onion powder, to taste

More ideas for chicken salad mix-ins:

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

How much chicken salad do you need 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.

How long does chicken salad last?

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 I don’t recommend it. 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!

5-Minute Chicken Salad Recipe

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.

4.94 from 15 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: chicken

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken salad

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Servings:

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken diced
½ apple diced but not peeled
¼ cup sliced grapes
2 celery stems sliced
1 seedless mini cucumber
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup plain yogurt or sour cream
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ tsp onion powder
dashes of salt, pepper & dried parsley 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!

Video

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.

Nutrition

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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!

chicken salad with apples, grapes and celery served in a croissant

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!

More Easy Chicken Salad Recipes and Quick Lunch Ideas:

If you love simple lunches that come together fast, there are so many easy chicken recipes to try next! Our creamy Chicken Pasta Salad is perfect for potlucks and meal prep, while crispy Best Homemade Chicken Strips and kid-friendly McDonald’s Copycat Chicken Nuggets are two of our most popular family dinner recipes. For even more easy chicken dinner ideas, try flavorful Zesty Italian Chicken or sweet and savory Easy Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken for a stress-free weeknight meal everyone will love.

Looking for easy side dishes and fresh salads to serve alongside your sandwiches and lunches? Our refreshing Cucumber Tomato Salad and sweet Mandarin Orange Salad are always delicious options, while creamy Copycat Ruby Tuesday Pasta Salad and crunchy Frito Corn Salad are perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and make-ahead lunches. For something fun and flavorful, don’t miss our festive Red White and Blue Pasta Salad for your next summer gathering or family cookout!