This Easy Canned Chicken Salad Recipe Will Become Your Favorite Sandwich Filling!

Walnut Canned Chicken Salad

yield: 6 SERVINGS

prep time: 10 MINUTES

total time: 10 MINUTES

Ingredients

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!

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My easy chicken salad sandwich recipe using canned chicken is a yummy protein-packed lunch or dinner idea!

canned chicken salad sandwich on a cutting board

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.

woman holding a chicken salad sandwich

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.

fork with walnut canned chicken salad recipe

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.

making a walnut canned chicken salad sandwich

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!

ingredients to make canned chicken salad sandwiches

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.
  • 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.

bowl with shredded canned chicken

adding sour cream and mayo to chicken salad

adding herbs to chicken salad

mixing bowl with chicken salsd

fork with walnut chicken salad

adding chicken salad to bread


Print

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

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!

Brought to you by Hip2Save.

plate with half a chicken salad sandwich

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! 


Make a quick chicken pot pie using this same canned hicken shortcut as well!


About the writer:

Lina has a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.


Join The Discussion

Comments 28

  1. Kris

    I love grapes in mine 🙂

    • PDX To OGG Mama

      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.

      • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

        I always try to look for those and haven’t seen them in my store yet! Yum

        • cindy

          Lina – I live in WI. My local Pick n Save and Costco carry the cotton candy grapes. Hth!

          • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

            Oh I will look at my Costco for sure! Thanks Cindy 😀

  2. Tina S.

    Thanks! Looks delicious and I will definitely try this.

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Thanks Tina!

  3. mel

    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!

    • Jennifer

      Brilliant!

    • Lina (Hip's Modern Martha)

      Awesome! Love the cucumber idea 👍

  4. Joe

    Just made this recipe right now went out and bought all of the ingredients this morning, wow came out delicious!!!

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      So happy to hear you enjoyed it, Joe! It sure makes a delicious summer-time meal! 🤗

  5. TiffMeow

    Can’t wait to try! For those saving cash dollar tree has chicken cans.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Sweet! Thanks so much for that tip, TiffMeow! Hope you enjoy this recipe! 💕

  6. Dee

    I add curry (instead of the herbs) and chopped fresh pineapple. Delish.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      YUM! Those sound like some tasty substitutions, Dee! Thanks so much for sharing! 🥰

  7. Kur

    I didn’t realize the chicken was cooked already! I always first cooked it.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh ya, so convenient that way 👏

  8. Vironika

    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!

  9. pjpires

    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!

    • Vironika

      That sounds awesome!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Love this!! Thank you! Yum.

  10. Jess

    Instead of mayo, I mash up an avocado. So good!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yes! I have done that also. It’s so good. Thanks Jess!

  11. Eugenia johnson

    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.

    • Jessica (Hip Sidekick)

      Yum! 😋 Thanks so much for sharing your suggestions and swaps you make to create chicken salad, Eugenia! Much appreciated! 💞

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