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
- Prepare fruits and vegetables, slicing and/or dicing as needed.
- Combine everything in a medium sized mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.
- 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!
- 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
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
Nutrition
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
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.
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.
Canned chicken is already cooked and ready to serve! It’s tender, juicy and perfect for chicken salad.
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!
Check out our other popular salad recipes:
- Fiesta Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad
- Fancy Fruit Salad
- Orange Cream Fruit Salad
- Chicken Pasta Salad
- Cranberry Jello Salad
- Tropical Jello Pretzel Salad
- Creamy Orange Fruit Salad
- Berries and Cream Salad
- Cream Cheese Grape Salad
- Berry Spinach Salad
- Copycat KFC Coleslaw recipe
- Garden Vegetable Caprese Salad
- Spinach Chicken Pasta Salad
- Pizza Pasta Salad
- Chinese Chicken Salad
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Danielle says
One of my favorite things to eat! My favorite fruit to put in is sliced grapes. Yummy!
Utah Deal Diva says
Grapes! That sounds fabulous! i added it to the post- I know I was missing one popular ingredient! <br /><br />I love chicken and fruit together!
bakinggardens says
My family loves chicken salad sandwiches. Along with this recipe, I add toasted almonds, ground cumin, and curry powder. YUMM!
Jason says
I have been looking for knock-offs of the Subway Orchard chicken salad since they got rid of it a few years ago! It was my favorite summertime lunch!!! *sniff* I will definitely have to give this a shot! looks yummy, relatively easy, and cheap!
Jessica says
I hope you enjoy it!
Donna Reidland says
This looks delicious. So nice for a ladies lunch.
Amy says
This chicken salad looks soooo good. I could use one about right now. Thank you for sharing at Foodie Friday.
Mary Lou Flood says
It seems you forgot one of the most important ingredients to any salad…GREEN ONIONS!! 🙂 No apples, thank you…lol. Different ingredients for different tastes, for sure. Also ‘Miracle Whip’ NOT mayonnaise, for true flavour. Mayonnaise is too bland. This is just my opinion, and the way I would put the chicken salad together. Cucumber, celery, green onions, and Miracle Whip, with salt, pepper and some garlic powder. 🙂
Jessica says
Your suggestions sound great! Try it with the yogurt/ mayo combination. It’s wonderful! Ooh and you’re missing out with the apples. YUM!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
I love homemade chicken salad and now I cannot wait to make this super quick and easy version1
Kippi says
Nice and easy recipe with yummy mix in’s. I am pinning it. Have a great weekend, Kippi #kippiathome
Linda says
I love this chicken salad! I have a very similar one but I never thought of trading in some of the mayo for yogurt. Simply love the idea of adding a little more protein to the mix. Now I’m dreaming of a croissant sandwich!
Jennifer Farley says
This chicken salad recipe is delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Nellie says
Thank you Jennifer!
Susan Carraretto says
I love how quick and easy chicken salad is. I like how recipe makes it healthier by using half yogurt and half mayonnaise. And I’d never actually had raisins in mine before. Great idea.
Alison says
Susan, yep little tricks that don’t take away from the taste but help the healthiness factor are the best! Enjoy!
Jessica Formicola says
I made this for lunch today and OMG it was delicious! And I love how easy it was to make!
Alison says
Jessica, it is a go-to for lunch for me too! So glad you enjoyed it!
Allison says
This was the perfect way to use up the leftover chicken in my fridge. Thanks for all the different flavor ideas, too. delish!
Sarah says
Never thought of pineapple or or snap peas in chicken salad. Great addition! Just be sure to drain the pineapple tidbits thoroughly
Cledith says
Easy to make and very good, 😊thank you for sharing .
Alison says
Thank you Cledith!
MrsSW says
I don’t shop Costco – how many ounces in “:1 Costco sized can?”
Thanks
Jessica says
Sorry Sheila! It’s 12.5 oz can of chicken.
Joey says
Served this at a birthday luncheon for my moms 85! I doubled the recipe. It was a hit. I added green onions per another readers suggestion. My momma said it’s the best chicken salad she’s ever had ! Thank you.
Libby says
This was great! I used 4 5oz cans of chicken. I made several additions just because I had so many great ingredients on hand. I added a tsp brown mustard, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and dried chives. I didn’t have raisins or cucumbers but I did dried cherries and blueberries, sliced almonds and threw in some frozen peas for my toddler to get some veggies. I made it before her nap so it could sit in the fridge for a few hours. Worth the wait for all the flavors to come together. She loved this!