Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

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Sometimes eating healthier really is easy, like with this Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo). This lemon chicken salad with canned chicken recipe only takes 5 minute to prepare and is perfect served on your favorite type of lettuce. By using canned chicken, you can whip this dish up in no time.

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Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe

While mayonnaise is often used in chicken salad recipes, it is not a required ingredient. Leave the mayo out of this Low Carb Chicken Salad, replacing it instead with a simple olive oil-based dressing.

Mayonnaise can be a low carb and keto-friendly ingredient, but many brands of mayo are packed with sugar. Olive oil, on the other hand, is a go-to in the low carb world because it has zero net carbs.

Our Keto Chicken Salad recipe features a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

To keep the entire meal low carb, just grab some Romaine lettuce (or iceberg) to make a lettuce wrap, no bread needed.

Canned Chicken Salad Ingredient List

Canned Chicken, drained and flaked

Parmesan Cheese, shredded

Lemon Juice, fresh if possible

Lemon Zest (optional)

Olive Oil

Salt

Black Pepper

5 Minute Chicken Salad Recipe

Who doesn’t love a meal that takes 5 minutes to make? Plus, this chicken salad has only a handful of ingredients.

Barbara loves using canned chicken – one of her favorite pantry staples – for quick meal prep. If you have not tried canned chicken, you really should give it a shot. It is not only great to use in chicken salad, it also makes prepping your favorite casseroles quick and easy, or try this fun Chicken Crescent Bake using canned chicken.

Canned chicken is a low calorie, high protein pantry staple. It is a good idea to read the label to check the sodium content. You could rinse off the excess sodium by rinsing with water and draining before using in your recipes. Check out this post with all of our favorite recipes that can use canned chicken.

Do I need to cook canned chicken?

No, canned chicken does not need to be cooked at home before eating. The chicken gets cooked during the canning process. It is ready to go as soon as you open the can.

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (5)

Notes About Low Carb Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken Recipe:

  • Canned chicken typically comes in 12.5 ounce cans. This means that one can of chicken breast equals approximately two chicken breasts.
  • Be sure to drain and then lightly flake the canned chicken before adding the Parmesan cheese and other ingredients.
  • For added flavor, zest the lemon before juicing, and add the lemon zest right into the Lemon Chicken Salad.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper together until the juice and oil are well mixed to form a dressing.
  • Barbara often doubles this 5-Minute Low Carb Lemon Chicken Salad at the beginning of the week, and then takes it for her lunch the rest of the week.
  • This Lemon Chicken Salad is the perfect amount to serve two people, and it is also easy to double or triple to feed a bigger crowd.
  • If you are looking for a more traditional chicken salad, try our 3-Ingredient Chicken Salad (also made with canned chicken) or our Fancy Chicken Salad. You may also want to try our 10 Minute Lemon Chicken Pasta with Canned Chicken.

How to Make Keto Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken:

  1. Drain and flake canned chicken.
  2. Add Parmesan cheese and mix.
  3. In a separate bowl, make a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
  4. Pour over chicken and mix.
  5. To eat, serve as a sandwich or in a lettuce wrap.

Full recipe and ingredient amounts for the BEST CHICKEN SALAD with Canned Chicken can be found below.

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (8)

Easy Low Carb Recipes

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Tuscan Soup (with riced Cauliflower)

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Low Carb Cream of Celery Soup

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (14)

Print Recipe

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) - A Lemon Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken Recipe

Sometimes eating healthier really is easy, like with this Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo). This Lemon Chicken Salad with Canned Chicken Recipe only takes 5 minute to prepare, and is perfect served on your favorite type of lettuce. By using canned chicken, you can whip this dish up in no time.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

Total Time5 minutes mins

Course: Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: 5 minute chicken salad, chicken salad with canned chicken, keto chicken salad, lemon chicken salad, low carb chicken salad

Servings: 2

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

  • 12.5 ounces can chicken breast chunks
  • 1 Tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Lemon Zest (optional)

Instructions

  • Drain chicken breast chunks, lightly flake the chunks; add Parmesan cheese and mix.

    Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (15)

  • Mix together lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper until emulsified.

    Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (16)

  • Pour over chicken and cheese mixture, and stir together. Add lemon zest, if desired.

    Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (17)

  • Eat immediately or refrigerate until later.

    Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (18)

  • Tastes great served in lettuce cups.

    Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (19)

Notes

  • Canned chicken typically comes in 12.5 ounce cans. This means that one can of chicken breast equals approximately two chicken breasts.
  • Be sure to drain and then lightly flake the canned chicken before adding the Parmesan cheese and other ingredients.
  • For added flavor, zest the lemon before juicing, and add the lemon zest right into the Lemon Chicken Salad.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper together until the juice and oil are well mixed to form a dressing.
  • Barbara often doubles this 5-Minute Low Carb Lemon Chicken Salad at the beginning of the week, and then take it for her lunch.
  • This Lemon Chicken Salad is the perfect amount to serve two people, and it is also easy to double or triple to feed a bigger crowd.
  • If you are looking for a more traditional chicken salad, try our 3-Ingredient Chicken Salad (also made with canned chicken) or our Fancy Chicken Salad. You may also want to try our 10 Minute Lemon Chicken Pasta with Canned Chicken.

Linking up to Weekend Potluck.

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (21)

Low Carb Chicken Salad (no mayo) Recipe - These Old Cookbooks (2024)

FAQs

Why does chicken salad have so many carbs? ›

The average chicken salad without added fruit contains 1-3g total carbs and as few as 0g net carbs. However, they can still contain added sugar or even corn syrup in their dressings — and those with added fruits will contain even more carbs.

Does chicken salad chick use mayo or Miracle Whip? ›

Made Fresh & Served from the Heart

When our Original Chick, Stacy, set out in search of the perfect chicken salad, she found that the only two key components anyone could agree on were chicken and mayonnaise.

What is the history of the chicken salad sandwich? ›

Historically, chicken salad is not as Southern as you might think. The chicken salad that's beloved today originated in Wakefield, Rhode Island. In 1863, Liam Gray, founder of Town Meats, was the first to mix leftover chicken with grapes, mayonnaise and tarragon.

What happens if I eat chicken salad everyday? ›

Chicken salad might help some people lose weight, while it could hinder the process for others. The protein content of chicken salad may help keep you feeling full longer. It might also assist in regulating your appetite and food cravings — each of which can help with weight loss ( 9 , 10 , 13 , 14 ).

How many carbs are in 1 cup of homemade chicken salad? ›

Chicken Salad (1 cup) contains 2.3g total carbs, 1.6g net carbs, 31.9g fat, 29.4g protein, and 417 calories.

Why use Miracle Whip instead of mayo? ›

Mayonnaise is made of oil, eggs, and vinegar (or lemon juice). Miracle Whip has the same basic ingredients but with less oil, and the addition of water, sugar, and spices like mustard, paprika, and garlic. Even with these additions, Miracle Whip has almost half the calories of mayo and half the fat.

Is Miracle Whip better than olive oil mayonnaise? ›

Miracle Whip is a lower-fat, lower-calorie alternative to mayonnaise. However, it contains some refined ingredients, such as high-fructose corn syrup and soybean oil, which have been linked to several health issues. Try to find mayo that's made with healthy oils, such as olive or avocado oil, or make your own at home.

Can I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo? ›

Edwards notes that while you can "almost always" use mayonnaise and Miracle Whip interchangeably, you might notice a difference in flavor of the finished product. “Baking is the one exception where you should opt for mayonnaise rather than Miracle Whip, as the full-fat content is needed there,” Edwards says.

Why did Chick-fil-A stop selling the chicken salad sandwich? ›

Speaking with Today, a representative for Chick-fil-A stated, "We know that many of our customers loved our Chicken Salad, but we have also heard from guests that they are looking for new tastes and fresh flavors on the menu in our restaurants." The desire for novel flavors seems a bit overstated, considering that ...

Who first made chicken salad? ›

Chicken salad first originated when Liam Gray, proprietor of Town Meats in Wakefield, Rhode Island, mixed leftover chicken with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes in 1863.

Did Wolfgang Puck invent Chinese chicken salad? ›

Invented by Sylvia Cheng Wu also known as Madame Wu in the 60s and made popular by the original celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, The Chinese chicken salad has become an obsession in California, especially with celebrities. It's not hard to see why.

Does chicken salad have a lot of carbs? ›

Generally, a basic chicken salad with chicken, mayonnaise, and vegetables may contain around 2-5 grams of carbohydrates per serving. However, the addition of other ingredients like fruits, nuts, or sweeteners can influence the total carb count.

Is chicken salad actually healthy? ›

Definitely — chicken salad is full of lean proteins, minerals, and vitamins. It is low in sugar, carbs, and fiber while high in protein. Therefore, this low-calorie salad is good for your health.

Will chicken salad spike blood sugar? ›

The consumption of chicken, which is high in protein and low in carbohydrates, does not directly raise blood sugar levels.

Why does my chicken have carbs? ›

Chicken breasts contain no sugar or starch (unless prepared with breading or seasonings), so they have no carbohydrates. The estimated glycemic load of chicken breast is zero.

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