Easy Keto Chicken Salad- Canned, Rotisserie, and Leftover Chicken Recipes
/This Keto Chicken Salad Recipe can be made four different ways; Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Canned Chicken Salad, Leftover Chicken Salad and I ’ll even tell you how to cook chicken for chicken salad! Either way, all of these easy chicken salad recipes are the perfect make-ahead low carb lunch!
It's almost not even fair to consider it a recipe because its the easiest Keto Chicken Recipe ever. I usually throw it together with leftover chicken or canned chicken, but sometimes I’ll cook up some chicken breast or thighs and make a big batch for easy meal prepped lunches.
Chicken Salad Ingredients
Chicken (canned, rotisserie, leftover chicken breasts or thighs)
Mayo, this is the brand I used Primal Kitchen Sugar-Free Mayo
Celery, diced
Red Onion, diced
Celery Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic Powder
Is mayonnaise keto-friendly?
Although us Keto-ers are told we can slap on the butter, eat all the cheese, and indulge in chicken thighs instead of only lean chicken breasts, it's still important to be mindful of the ingredients we consume regularly.
You have to be mindful of the mayo or other condiments that you find in grocery stores. Many of them will have added sugar, artificial sweeteners or a list of processed ingredients you can’t pronounce.
If you are going to be meal prepping a healthy low carb chicken salad recipe for lunch every day this week you will want to take the time to make sure you are using Mayo that is clean and Keto friendly too!
Keto-friendly ingredients you can add to your chicken salad
Celery
Pickles
Cucumbers
Avocado
Fresh herbs
Chopped nuts
Chopped Bacon
Hardboiled eggs
I recommend making your own Keto Mayo or using Primal Kitchen Sugar-Free Mayo If you’d rather find something at your regular grocery store be sure you take a good look at the nutrition label!
This Keto Chicken Salad can be made using whatever chicken you have on hand. Here are my favorite options.
Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Rotisserie Chicken Salad is perfect for a last-minute meal on one of those nights when cooking and making a full-on chicken thigh recipe ain’t going to happen.
Or maybe you eat the rotisserie chicken that night and use the leftovers to make Rotisserie Chicken Salad the next day for lunch!? #doublewin
How to make Rotisserie Chicken Salad
First, remove five ounces of chicken from the bones, discarding the skin. Use to forks or your fingers lol to pull apart the chicken and possibly even chop it up into smaller pieces.
Now in a small bowl combine the rotisserie chicken, mayo, onion, celery, celery salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder.
Canned Chicken Salad Recipe -Is canned chicken keto approved?
Canned chicken salad is even easier to make, but is canned chicken Keto approved. Yes, it is Keto approved, but its important to check the ingredients list on any canned foods. If the ingredients list has anything added to it other than chicken, I suggest finding a different option, and preferably find an organic, free-range canned chicken.
How to Make Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken
Grab a five ounce or double the recipe and use the bigger ten-ounce cans of chicken. Drain out the juice and add your chicken to a small bowl. Use a fork to break apart the chicken, then add the mayo, onions, celery, celery salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder. Use your fork to work it all together.
Leftover Chicken Recipe
Like I mentioned you could take a leftover chicken breast or chicken thighs to make a leftover chicken salad recipe too. Any seasonings used to initially make the chicken will add extra flavor!
My husband made some Italian seasoned chicken thighs that we had with cauliflower mash, and we just reused the leftovers to make chicken salad. It was so delicious.
For leftover chicken salad weigh out five ounces of the chicken and chop it up before adding the rest of the ingredients.
How to Cook Chicken for Chicken Salad
This chicken salad makes for a great low-carb chicken thigh recipe or Keto Chicken Breast Recipe. You could make as large of a batch as you’d like since the recipe is so simple you can easily increase the number of servings you are making, or you can cook a single chicken breast or two chicken thighs to make the recipe.
For a low-carb chicken thigh recipe or Keto chicken breast recipe, you could bake or sauté.
To Sautee:
Lightly grease a skillet or sauté pan over medium heat add chicken thighs or breasts to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, flip the chicken and continue cooking for about 6-7 minutes. Check to be sure the chicken is cooked all the way through, no pink in the center! Remove from heat, drain any excess juices, chop up the chicken then add remaining chicken salad ingredients.
To bake:
Preheat oven to 450 F, lightly grease a baking sheet, bake for 10 minutes, remove from heat and flip the chicken breast or thighs over. Return to the oven and cook for an additional 5- 10 minutes depending on the size of the chicken. Cut a piece open to be sure there is no more pink in the center.
More Keto Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
Keto Fried Chicken Tenders Chick-Fil-A Copycat Recipe
Keto Grilled Chicken Thighs With Maple Dijon Marinade
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken & Ranch Broccoli
How to Serve Keto Chicken Salad and Keep It Low Carb?
Ok.. let's be honest there is nothing better than chicken salad on Ritz crackers, but don't get excited, we can't have those (sad, sad news). But here are a few ways to eat Keto Chicken Salad.
eat it straight out of the bowl
cut thick slices of cucumber or bell peppers for scooping
I found these Organic flax seed crackers on Amazon, or you could make your own Low Carb Crackers
Use Bib Lettuce to make chicken salad lettuce wraps
Pile your chicken salad on Trader Joe’s Crispbreads top with a slice of cheddar cheese and pop it in the toaster over to melt the cheese for a delicious chicken salad melt (can’t find them online but if you have a Trader Joe’s nearby you gotta try this))
How to Store Keto Chicken Salad
The great news is this easy chicken salad recipe can be stored in the fridge for at least a week, which is why this is one of my go-to meal prep lunches. Plus, the flavors develop even more after its been refrigerated for a few hours. Just store it in an airtight container in your refrigerator and you’re good to go.
Can you Freeze Keto Chicken Salad
Technically you can freeze Keto Chicken Salad, but the consistency of it might change. It’s much better fresh. I’d just stick with making when you intend to eat it and keeping leftovers stored in the fridge.
Chicken Salad Recipe Add-on Ideas From Other Keto-ers
I'm stoked that so many people have loved this easy Keto Chicken Salad as much as I do. Some people have even gotten creative with their recipes, which I think is an awesome, so I wanted to share some ideas you all have shared in the comments:
“Love this. I modified it slightly and added some curry and cayenne powder. Gives it a nice little kick if you eat this often and want to change it. Up. :)” - Alisha
“Primal Kitchen has a chipotle lime avocado oil mayonnaise that is to die for and goes well with garlic and onion so I will use that for this recipe.“ -Val
“I added a few chopped pecans, and it was a fantastic lunch!” -Rachel
“I loved this recipe! I ate it with lettuce wraps and replaced the celery for cucumber. The crunch is so refreshing!!” - Kiki
If you make the recipe be sure to share your creation.
Tag me on instagram @meganseelinger
KETO CHICKEN SALAD
Ingredients
Instructions
- Remove five ounces of chicken from the bones, discarding the skin.
- Use two forks to pull apart the chicken and chop the chicken up into smaller pieces.
- In a small bowl combine the rotisserie chicken, mayo, onion, celery, celery salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder.
- Drain the juice from the can of chicken
- Add chicken to a small bowl, and use a fork to break apart the chicken
- Add the mayo, onions, celery, celery salt, ground pepper, and garlic powder. Use your fork to work it all together.
- To Sautee: Lightly grease a skillet or sauté pan over medium heat add chicken thighs or breasts to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, flip the chicken and continue cooking for about 6-7 minutes. Check to be sure the chicken is cooked all the way through, no pink in the center! Remove from heat, drain any excess juices, chop up the chicken then add remaining chicken salad ingredients.
- To bake: Preheat oven to 450 F, lightly grease a baking sheet, bake for 10 minutes, remove from heat and flip the chicken breast or thighs over. Return to oven and cook for an additional 5- 10 minutes depending on the size of the chicken. Cut a piece open to be sure there is no more pink in the center.
Notes
Rotisserie Chicken Salad: Calories: 456.7 Fat: 33.6g Sat Fat: 6g Protein: 39g Net Carbs: <1g
Canned Chicken Salad: Calories: 328.9 Fat: 24.5g Sat Fat: 3g Protein: 25g Net Carbs: <1g
With Home Cooked Chicken Breast: Calories: 449.1 Fat: 28.4g Sat Fat: 4.8g Protein: 43.9g Net Carbs: <1g
With Home Cooked Boneless Chicken Thigh: Calories: 449.1 Fat: 30.6g Sat Fat: 5.6g Protein: 39.4g Net Carbs: <1g
*Macros based on the chicken I found at my local grocery store
Nutritional information is provided and I keep it as accurate as possible. Keep in mind nutrition facts on all ingredients may vary depending on the different brands you may use. Consult your doctor before adding any new foods or supplements to your diet and read our full Terms and Conditions
