This Easy Canned Chicken Salad Recipe Will Become Your Favorite Sandwich Filling!
My easy chicken salad sandwich recipe using canned chicken is a yummy protein-packed lunch or dinner idea!
Need an easy weekday lunch recipe or dinner sandwich idea?
Consider compiling some creamy walnut chicken salad using a combination of fresh and dried herbs plus walnuts and celery for a crunchy texture. This meal is both yummy and convenient, as it uses canned chicken breast meat from the pantry.
Walnut chicken salad is my fave!
Over the years, I have kind of become a chicken salad enthusiast! When I forget to plan anything for dinner, I’ll default to something easy and delicious like this! Most of the time I just eyeball ingredients so I know this idea can be altered to taste for your family.
Make this a low-carb keto idea by selecting a keto-friendly bread or serving it as a lettuce wrap sandwich. Sometimes I will stuff this in celery sticks instead of bread, which is delicious, too.
Don’t knock canned chicken until you try it!
Years ago a friend served up a yummy chicken salad sandwich for lunch and I was so surprised to learn it was from a can. I have been using this method ever since.
This recipe works with any type of chicken – leftover chicken, store-bought rotisserie chicken, or canned chicken from your pantry. I always keep Kirkland canned chicken from Costco on hand for last-minute frugal meals like sandwiches, soups, and casseroles. It’s my preferred brand for canned chicken.
Whenever we go on a picnic, camping, or on a road trip I sometimes make a batch of this walnut chicken salad to put in a cooler and take with us. It’s perfect for putting together some quick wraps or sandwiches while our family is on the go.
I bet this mixture would be great to include in my favorite road trip sandwich hack using Hawaiin rolls!
Hip tips for making this easy canned chicken salad recipe:
- I love that chicken salad is such a versatile meal idea! You can definitely customize this recipe with so many different add-ins. Try dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, sliced red grapes, or chopped apple if you’d enjoy a touch of sweetness in your sandwich.
- Not a fan of mayo? Try using plain Greek yogurt instead!
- This recipe calls for Herbes de Provence, which is one of my favorite spice blends to pair with poultry. I use it often when roasting a chicken or turkey or making homemade soups. It usually includes marjoram, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and lavender.
- Any leftover chicken salad is good for about 3-5 days stored in the fridge.
Walnut Canned Chicken Salad
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
total time: 10 MINUTES
Creamy chicken salad with fresh and dried herbs, crunchy walnuts, and celery using canned chicken as the base.
Ingredients
- 2- 12.5 oz cans chicken breast meat, drained
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/3 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch of black pepper
Directions
1
In a medium sized mixing bowl, use a fork to separate chicken.
2
Stir in mayo and sour cream.
3
Add remaining ingredients, and stir until combined and seasoned to liking.
4
Refrigerate until ready to serve inside sandwiches or on top of lettuce or celery. Enjoy!
I love this canned chicken salad sandwich as a simple pantry meal.
My daughter asks for these sandwiches all the time. The dried Herbs de Provence gives it a fancier more grown-up taste with the added lavender. It has some great texture with nuts and celery. Sometimes I do add some chopped red or green onion, too. The variations are endless. 😁
Let us know your favorite chicken salad add-ins in the comments so we can all get ideas!
I love grapes in mine 🙂
On the topic of grapes, my family and I just tried “cotton candy grapes.” Yes, they taste like cotton candy (I think) upon first bite…I was told it’s because they are grown to have a higher sugar content.
I always try to look for those and haven’t seen them in my store yet! Yum
Lina – I live in WI. My local Pick n Save and Costco carry the cotton candy grapes. Hth!
Oh I will look at my Costco for sure! Thanks Cindy 😀
Thanks! Looks delicious and I will definitely try this.
Thanks Tina!
Looks delish Lina! This is almost I make mine, but w/out the sour cream. I’ll have to try it with next time.
When I’m not in the mood for bread or crackers, I like to scoop out the seeds of a halved cucumber and use it for chicken & tuna salads!
Brilliant!
Awesome! Love the cucumber idea 👍
Just made this recipe right now went out and bought all of the ingredients this morning, wow came out delicious!!!
So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Joe! It sure makes a delicious summer-time meal! 🤗
Can’t wait to try! For those saving cash dollar tree has chicken cans.
Sweet! Thanks so much for that tip, TiffMeow! Hope you enjoy this recipe! 💕
I add curry (instead of the herbs) and chopped fresh pineapple. Delish.
YUM! Those sound like some tasty substitutions, Dee! Thanks so much for sharing! 🥰
I didn’t realize the chicken was cooked already! I always first cooked it.
Oh ya, so convenient that way 👏
Yum! I had a version of this with grapes in it at my baby shower years ago. It was amazing! Do you have more recipes using canned chicken?? I’d love to have more ideas so I can stay stocked up on canned chicken! Thanks!
You can honestly sub in canned for lots of recipes like white bean chili, enchiladas, and be sure to check out my chicken pot pie! https://hip2save-com-develop.go-vip.co/recipes/easy-chicken-pot-pie/
Awesome! Thank you, Linda!
For a Buffalo kick, 1 can chicken, drained, sub ranch or blue cheese salad dressing for the Mayo /sour cream and, chopped celery with greens and finely chopped onion or a sliced green onion and Frank’s Red Hot all to taste. Makes wraps/roll ups or add to a lettuce boat or club roll. Yummm!
That sounds awesome!
Love this!! Thank you! Yum.
Instead of mayo, I mash up an avocado. So good!
Yes! I have done that also. It’s so good. Thanks Jess!
I use rotisserie chicken breast from Sam’s and shred it with a fork I use Hidden Valley instead of mayo, pinch mustard and pinch of sugar.
Yum! 😋 Thanks so much for sharing your suggestions and swaps you make to create chicken salad, Eugenia! Much appreciated! 💞