Keto chicken salad is a favorite for lunch and a summer staple, whether it’s eaten with a fork, in a lettuce wrap, or spooned on top of sliced cucumber. Salads often get a bad rap for being boring, but this easy keto chicken salad recipe is anything but that. It’s a fuss-free, low-carb lunch or light dinner that’s ready in minutes and features interesting textures and flavors. This article explores a simple and satisfying keto chicken salad recipe using canned chicken, perfect for a quick, budget-friendly, and delicious meal.
Why Choose Keto Chicken Salad?
This keto chicken salad isn't your typical chicken salad; every bite is bursting with flavors. This recipe saves you time as you don’t have to cook or chop up the chicken! It is simple, convenient, and tastes amazing.
- Low-Carb and Keto-Friendly: This recipe is designed to fit perfectly into a ketogenic lifestyle, helping you maintain your carb goals while enjoying a satisfying meal.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in about 10 minutes from start to finish, this recipe is perfect for busy individuals who need a fast and healthy meal option.
- Versatile: Enjoy it in lettuce wraps, on cucumber slices, or with low-carb bread. It can also be customized with various add-ins to suit your taste.
- Budget-Friendly: Using canned chicken makes this recipe an affordable option.
- Meal Prep Friendly: It can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a week, making it ideal for meal prepping.
Ingredients for Keto Canned Chicken Salad
Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make this keto-friendly canned chicken salad. There are zero quirky ingredients or substitutions in this recipe.
- Chicken: The recipe calls for canned chicken, but just about any chicken will do. Using canned chicken makes it a budget-friendly and quick option. Ensure that the canned chicken contains only chicken and no added ingredients. Preferably find an organic, free-range canned chicken.
- Mayonnaise: Essential for the creamy base of the salad. It is best to use mayo made with olive oil. Typical mayo is made with added sugar and harmful oils. Choose a keto-friendly mayonnaise, such as Primal Kitchen Sugar-Free Mayo, or ensure the mayo you use is sugar-free.
- Celery: Adds a nice crunch to the salad. Be sure to chop this very finely.
- Red Onion: Contributes a sharp, flavorful bite.
- Pickles: Many pickles contain added sugar, so check the labels before purchasing a product.
- Seasonings: Celery salt, black pepper, and garlic powder enhance the overall flavor.
- Optional Add-ins:
- Keto nuts for added crunch
- Fresh herbs or spices
- Shredded cheese to sprinkle on top
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making this keto canned chicken salad is incredibly simple. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the Chicken: Drain the juice from the can of chicken. Add chicken to a small bowl, and use a fork to break apart the chicken.
- Combine Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, onion, celery, celery salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder. Use your fork to work it all together.
- Mix Well: Use your fork to work it all together until the salad is well combined.
- Chill (Optional): For best results, chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serving Suggestions
There are several ways to enjoy this keto chicken salad while keeping it low-carb:
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- Lettuce Wraps: Use romaine hearts or butter lettuce to make chicken salad lettuce wraps. Romaine is crunchy, and butter lettuce is soft.
- Cucumber Slices: Cut a cucumber into 1/4 inch thick rounds and spoon a little chicken salad on top.
- Low-Carb Bread: Try your hand at a low-carb bread recipe or check out some of the lower-carb breads available at the grocery store.
- Bell Peppers: Cut thick slices of cucumber or bell peppers for scooping.
- Keto Crackers: Use Organic flax seed crackers.
- Trader Joe’s Crispbreads: Pile your chicken salad on Trader Joe’s Crispbreads, top with a slice of cheddar cheese, and pop it in the toaster oven to melt the cheese for a delicious chicken salad melt.
Customizing Your Keto Chicken Salad
One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Swap Mayo: Turn this into a Greek yogurt chicken salad by simply swapping the mayo with Greek yogurt if you’re not a fan of mayo.
- Add More Vegetables: Keto vegetables like celery and red onion both add a nice “crunch” to this salad, so when mixing and matching, you’ll want to use other veggies that do the same!
- Spicy Chicken Salad: Add Sriracha and sugar-free honey for a sweet and spicy flavor.
- Traditional Chicken Salad: Make a more traditional chicken salad by simply skipping the pickles.
- Add Crunch: Mix in some chopped nuts like pecans or almonds.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle some shredded cheese on top.
- Coronation Chicken: Omit the mustard and parsley. Add 2 teaspoons mild curry powder and a pinch of cinnamon plus 2-3 sun-dried tomatoes instead of the traditional mango chutney for sweetness.
- Soft and Creamy: Omit the celery and add chopped hard-boiled eggs or avocado.
- Add Spices: Fold in some spices.
- Add Bacon: Add bacon for a smoky flavor.
Tips and Tricks
- Check Labels: Always check the labels of canned chicken and mayonnaise to ensure they don’t contain added sugars or unwanted ingredients.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the salad up to five hours in advance. This extra time gives the flavors a chance to mesh and taste even better.
- Keep Chicken Cold: If you’re cooking chicken fresh, make sure it’s completely cold before making the chicken salad.
- Don’t Skip the Chill Time: Chilling the salad for a bit before serving enhances the flavor.
Storing Instructions
This easy chicken salad recipe can be stored in the fridge for at least a week. Just store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator. The flavors develop even more after it’s been refrigerated for a few hours, making it perfect for meal prep.
Technically you can freeze Keto Chicken Salad, but the consistency of it might change. It’s much better fresh. If you want to freeze chicken salad, I suggest storing it in a freezer-safe food storage bag and laying the bag on a baking sheet so it freezes flat. This recipe may be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. Keep in mind nutrition facts on all ingredients may vary depending on the different brands you may use. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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