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Keto Chicken Salad | Best Idea for a Busy Week

December 8, 2015 by Madalaine 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Keto Chicken Salad is so easy, you think to yourself, “How can this be this good?”  The trick is to start off with a beautifully roasted bird and keep it simple with only 5 additional ingredients.

chicken salad on a bed of lettuce on a white plate

Making your own chicken salad at home is much healthier than buying it at the store. A typical chicken salad at the grocery store can have up to 400 calories in a 1/2 cup serving versus this homemade version with only 250 calories. Many times the chicken salad you find in the deli section has added sugar too.

5 Ingredient Keto Chicken Salad Recipe

Use this basic recipe and play with different variations (below) if you’re in the mood.  

ingredients for chicken salad laid out in white bowls: diced chicken, celery, onion, mayo, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked chicken, chopped
  • 2/3 cups mayonnaise
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 small onion minced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine everything in a mixing bowl.
  2. Stir gently until combined.
  3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Note: When I make chicken salad, it’s usually the day after we’ve had roasted chicken for dinner.  It’s a fabulous use for leftovers.  If you like the texture of shredded chicken breasts, by all means, use that.

I usually roast two chickens just to have enough for chicken salad.  If you’re short on time, forget roasting it yourself and grab one already done.  I can‘t walk past the rotisserie chickens at Sam’s or Costco without ending up with a couple of rotisserie chickens in my cart.

Chicken Salad YouTube Video

Here are 2 recipes for a basic chicken salad. The first recipe is a sweeter chicken salad made with Miracle Whip and the second is a little more savory and is made with real mayo.

Chicken Salad YouTube thumbnail of chicken salad close up piled on lettuce. click on picture to go to video
👆🏼Watch the Video!👆🏼

Chicken salad Calories

The portion size for this recipe is 2/3 cup and there are about 250 calories in each serving. One of the things I love about being on a keto eating plan is NOT having to count calories.

True, I do count Net Carbs (total carbs – fiber = net carbs). And this recipe for keto chicken salad only has 2 Net Carbs per serving. 🎉

Meal Prepping Keto Chicken Salad

This is one of the BEST make-ahead dishes for those super busy weeks. It makes for great sandwiches and wraps or eaten on its own as a salad. Plus there are all those great variations (below) to jazz it up so you don’t get bored.

top down view of chicken salad piled on a green bed of lettuce on a white plate on a white marble tabletop with parsley sprigs
Chicken Salad salad

How long will chicken salad last in the refrigerator?

If you put your chicken salad in an airtight container, you can safely refrigerate it for 3 to 5 days. Just make sure your refrigerator is set at 40℉ or 4.5℃ or lower. Ideally, it should be set between 35℉ and 38℉ (1.7℃ to 3.3℃).

Can you freeze chicken salad?

As long as your chicken salad hasn’t been sitting out for more than 2 hours, you can safely freeze. Put it in an airtight container and freeze it for up to 3 months.

chicken salad pin for pinterest 3 photos of salad and ingredients

Keto low carb Chicken Salad Variations

Summer chicken salad – Add 1 cup of sliced grapes and 2/3 cup of toasted pecans.  The grapes add a lovely pop of juicy sweetness and the nutty flavor of the pecans is delicious.  

Lemon garlic chicken salad – Before adding all the ingredients together, mix the juice of 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 1 minced garlic clove to the mayonnaise.

Cranberry chicken salad – Add 2/3 cup of dried cranberries and 2/3 cup of toasted pecans.

Apple pecan chicken salad – Mix in 1 cup of diced apple and 2/3 cup of toasted pecans.

Southern Style chicken salad – Use 1/3 mayonnaise and 1/3 cup yellow mustard, 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles, 1 tablespoon fresh dill, 1/2 cup minced red onion, and 2 boiled eggs, chopped.

chicken salad sandwich on croissant on a wood board with grapes behind the sandwich

What are good keto options for eating a chicken salad?

This is the Achilles heel for anyone on a low-carb keto diet. How do I eat a sandwich without bread? Here are some options:

  • Low-carb (gluten-free) bread or bagels
  • Lettuce wrap
  • Celery sticks
  • Cucumber “boats” or slices
  • Parmesan crisps
  • Low-carb tortilla wraps
chicken salad on a bed of lettuce on a white plate
5 from 1 vote
Print

Keto Chicken Salad

A great way to use a leftover rotisserie chicken or last night’s oven roasted chicken.  Either way it’s delicious and always sure to go over in a BIG way! | www.lakesidetable.com
Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword fast and easy recipe, keto, low carb, make ahead
Prep Time 10 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 252 kcal
Author Madalaine

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked chicken chopped
  • 2/3 cups mayonnaise
  • 1 celery stalk diced
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 small onion minced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine everything in a mixing bowl.
  2. Stir gently until combined.
  3. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe Video

YouTube video

Recipe Notes

Variations:

  • Substitute a homemade mayonnaise for store bought mayo
  • Add a bit of summer by adding 1/2 cup of chopped green grapes and 1/2 toasted pecans
  • 2 teaspoons of curry powder, 1/2 cup of dried currants or raisins, & 1/2 cup of pistachios
Nutrition Facts
Keto Chicken Salad
Amount Per Serving (0.5 cup)
Calories 252 Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.04g
Polyunsaturated Fat 9g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 173mg8%
Potassium 204mg6%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 18g36%
Vitamin A 212IU4%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Filed Under: Easy Chicken Dishes, Ketogenic Tagged With: Keto Friendly

Previous Post: « Golden Roast Chicken
Next Post: Keto Hot Cocoa & Homemade Marshmallows »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Deb Hatfield

    November 25, 2018 at 6:19 pm

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for a good chicken salad recipe and this sounds wonderful. Would a rotisserie chicken work in this?? Might just have to whip some up this week. Can’t wait to try it!
    How do you feel about using Miracle Whip in place of Mayo? lol

    Reply
  2. Carol G

    June 14, 2020 at 6:40 am

    We enjoy chicken salad during our hot summers. Never thought about adding Italian seasonings, thanks for the idea. I have added curry powder and granny smith apples on occasion which is so good.

    Reply

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