Easy Chicken Salad

This easy chicken salad requires just a few simple ingredients. It’s packed with flavor and high in protein, making it perfect for lunch or a quick snack!

Hi friends!

I’ve got another quick & easy lunch recipe to share with you today! This easy chicken salad is one of my go-to lunches on a busy day. It comes together quickly and uses canned chicken, which I always have in my pantry.

It’s high in protein and can be eaten in a variety of ways – on sandwiches, scooped with chips or crackers, on a bed of leafy greens or on slices of bell pepper.

Best Type of Chicken for Chicken Salad

So what type of chicken is best for chicken salad? Let’s review:

• Canned chicken- A great shelf-stable option. It’s easy to keep on hand in your pantry, shreds easily and has a mild flavor.
• Rotisserie chicken – A great shortcut if you don’t want to use canned chicken. May need to dice more than shred.
• Shredded chicken – You can easily make your own chicken in the crockpot or instant pot and then shred to use for chicken salad.
• Grilled chicken – Has a stronger flavor and wouldn’t be my first choice for a traditional chicken salad
• White meat vs dark meat – I would choose white meat for chicken salad

Kid-Friendly Chicken Salad

The whole reason I chose to make, measure and post this recipe is because back to school season is here and I’m always looking for more protein options to put in my kids’ lunchboxes.

If I keep it simple, a couple of my kids will eat this either on a sandwich or with crackers. To make it more fun for lunch boxes, here are some serving ideas:

• Make mini sandwiches using Hawaiian slider rolls
• Serve with their favorite crackers for scooping
• Stuff into a pita pocket
• Use it to fill lettuce cups or mini bell peppers

Chopped vs. Shredded Chicken Salad

There’s no wrong answer here. It really comes down to personal preference. Shredded chicken is my preference because that’s how I grew up eating it. I also find it sticks together better making it easier to scoop or stuff.

However, you can just as easily used diced chicken. I would aim for a small dice to make it easier to eat with crackers or fit on sandwiches without falling everywhere out the sides.

No-Mayo Chicken Salad

If you don’t like mayonaise, you’re not along. I think that’s one of the biggest hurdles that keeps people from trying chicken salad in the first place. A few tips:

• Try less mayo. Adding too much makes it way too creamy and can be a turn-off taste and texture-wise.
• Use yogurt – Replace some or all of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt. It helps add creaminess but has a bit of a different flavor than mayo.
• Try hummus! Another easy option to get your chicken salad to stick together without using mayo.
• Avocado – Using avocado is one of my favorite options but it’s best for when you’re making it right before eating. Storing it in the fridge with avocado can lead to it not looking so great the next day.

Chicken Salad Mix-ins

I intentionally kept this recipe very basic to be used as a baseline. You can easily jazz it up and add mix-ins to your liking. Here are some ideas:

• Crunchy – Try adding chopped celery or cucumber, or some nuts and seeds like pecans, walnuts, sunflowe seedsr or pumpkin seeds.
• Sweet – Try adding sliced grapes, chopped apples or sweetened dried cranberries.
• Spices – Spices can really help customize the flavor. Try dill, ranch seasoning, curry powder or everything bagel seasoning.

Ways To Serve Chicken Salad

Here are some easy ways to serve chicken salad:

• Sandwiches/Wraps – Pile on your favorite bread or in a wrap with some lettuce, tomato and onion. Or try sliders for a more bite-sized version.
• Dip – Serve it in a bowl with lots of options for scooping – crackers, sliced veggies, etc
• Salad Topping– Use it to add protein to your favorite leafy green salad.
• Melt – Serve open-faced on toast and melt some cheese over the top like a tuna melt.
• Stuffed – Stuff it into mini bell peppers, cucumber cups etc.

---

Easy Chicken Salad Recipe

Here’s my base recipe:

Print

---

Easy Chicken Salad FAQs

How do you make chicken salad from scratch?

Making chicken salad from scratch is super easy. Choose the type of chicken you want to use and shred or chop it and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise (or an alternative) plus your favorite mix-ins and spices. Stir to combine and voila!

What is the best chicken to use for chicken salad?

Canned chicken is my favorite to use for chicken salad because it’s shelf-stable, easy to keep on hand and has a mild flavor. Rotisserie chicken is also a great shortcut for a quick chicken salad.

Can I use rotisserie chicken for chicken salad?

Absolutley! The chicken has great flavor and is already cooked. If it’s too hard to shred, just chop it up small and use it just like you would canned chicken in the recipe.

Can I make chicken salad with canned chicken?

Yes. This is what I consider the classic chicken salad. Comes out great every time.

How long does homemade chicken salad last?

Chicken salad is fine if stored in the fridge for 4-5 days.

Can you freeze chicken salad?

I would not recommend freezing chicken salad. While it can be done, it can alter the texture significantly. If you use crunchy veggies, they will lose their crunch and mayonnaise generally doesn’t freeze well. Your chicken salad will also become watery as it thaws.

How do you keep chicken salad from getting watery?

To keep freshly made chicken salad from getting watery, there are a few tricks. If you’re cooking and shredding the chicken yourself, let it cool completely and pat it dry before using. If using something like cucumber or tomato, scoop out the seeds before adding to your salad. Blot celery, onions and other watery vegetables with a paper towel before adding. Using full-fat mayonnaise, yogurt etc works better than low-fat.

Is chicken salad healthy?

Yes! Chicken salad can be a great, protein-packed addition to any meal or snack. It’s full of lean protein and you can control the amount of fat you add with the mix-ins and binders you choose.

Can I make chicken salad ahead of time?

Yes. Chicken salad can easily be made ahead of time for meal prep and will hold up in the fridge for several days.

What can I serve with chicken salad besides bread?

If you don’t want your chicken salad on a sandwich, try serving it with vegetables, crackers or chips for scooping. You can also add it to salads and stuff it into vegetable cups.

Can I make chicken salad without mayonnaise?

Yes. If you don’t want to use mayonnaise, try swapping in plain Greek yogurt, hummus or mashed avocado. If you like ranch dressing, that could be an option as well.

What are the best mix-ins for chicken salad?

It totally depends on your preference. Try crunchy options like celery, cucumber or chopped nuts. Or sweet options like grapes, apples or dried cranberries. You can also vary the spices, adding things like dill, ranch, cayenne pepper and everything bagel seasoning

Can kids eat chicken salad in a packed lunch?

Yes! Chicken salad can be great in packed lunches – on slider buns, for scooping with crackers or veggies etc. Be sure to send in an insulated bag with an ice pack to keep the chicken salad at a safe temperature.

---

More Chicken Salad Recipes

Want more variations to try?

• Add your chicken salad to this Chopped Mediterranean Salad
• Swap chicken for tuna in this Curried Tuna Salad with Apples
• Best Chicken Salad Recipe
• Classic Chicken Salad

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–