Keto Chicken Salad Recipe: How to Make Delicious Chicken Salad That's Low Carb (2024)

This homemade Keto Chicken Salad recipe delivers a deliciously healthy, protein-packed lunch or light dinner with just a few simple ingredients!Serve as lettuce wraps, on top of a salad, or as a chicken salad chaffle!

How To Make Keto Chicken Salad Step-By-Step

Keto lunches can be tricky and, at times, become monotonous. However, this keto chicken salad recipe is based on your classic chicken salad, which is naturally lower in carbs! As you know, I am not a huge mayonnaise fan. However, chicken salad is the perfect keto lunch or light dinner option to get protein and fat while keeping carbs low.

I am sure you’ve noticed that many keto meals lack crunch, so I love how chicken salad has a crunchy bite from the pecans and Celery. My favorite thing about this keto chicken salad is that it is made from scratch AND can be assembled in less than 10 minutes (assuming your chicken is already shredded). You can store it in the fridge until ready, making it ideal for last-minute meals.

Keto Chicken Salad Ingredients:

• Shredded Chicken: provides protein to the chicken salad
• Chopped Pecans: adds crunch and nutty flavor (optional)
• Finely Chopped Celery: gives that veggie flavor and crunch
• Diced Onion: adds extra flavor and texture
• Mayo: binds the ingredients together
• Dijon Mustard: adds tangy flavor
• Lemon Zest: provides bright, citrusy flavor
• Chopped Parsley: gives that good fresh herb flavor
• Chopped Dill: adds distinctive dill flavor
• Salt and Pepper: seasons the salad
• Paprika: adds a hint of spice

Ways to Cook Chicken

• Baked Chicken: Bake bone-in chicken breasts or thighs at 400°F for 20-25 mins until 165°F internal temperature.
• Poached Chicken: Simmer boneless breasts in broth for 8-10 mins until cooked.
• Rotisserie Chicken: Use a pre-cooked roasted chicken from the grocery store.
• Grilled Chicken: Grill bone-in chicken on medium-high 5 mins per side until grill marks appear.
• Instant Pot Chicken: Cook boneless breasts for 6 mins manual high pressure, then natural release for 10 mins.
• Crockpot Chicken: Add breasts and seasonings to slow cooker. Cook low for 4-6 hours until tender.
• Pan Fried Chicken: Sear boneless breasts in olive oil over medium-high heat, turning once, until browned and 165°F internally.

How To Make Keto Chicken Salad Step-By-Step

This keto chicken salad comes together in minutes, making it perfect for meal prepping or quick weeknight dinners. Once cooked, the chicken is shredded, and the vegetables are chopped. You combine everything in one bowl and mix well.

*This is a step-by-step guide for visual learners; scroll to the bottom of the post for complete recipe instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breast with chopped pecans, Celery finely diced, diced Onion, and 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped.
2. Next, add clean mayo, dijon mustard, lemon zest, dried dill, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
3. Toss to mix well. Taste the keto chicken salad and adjust the seasonings as desired. Finish with a pinch of the paprika sprinkled over top and freshly chopped parsley.

Enjoy! It makes a delicious chicken saladketo chaffle sandwich.

Top Tips For Preparing Keto-Friendly Chicken Salad

Follow these handy tips for flavorful results when making chicken salad suited for a ketogenic diet:

• Shred Chicken Evenly: Shred rotisserie or cooked chicken breast into long, thin strands using two forks. Avoid large, uneven chunks.
• Chop Produce Uniformly: Dice the Celery, onions, herbs, and other veggies into small, evenly sized pieces for visual appeal and consistent mouthfeel.
• Use Fresh Herbs: Dried herbs lack brightness. Use fresh parsley, dill, and other herbs for the best flavor.
• Chill Thoroughly: For best results and infusion of flavors, combine ingredients and refrigerate the finished keto chicken salad for 1-2 hours before serving.
• Pick Ripe Avocados: If swapping some mayo for avocado, only use perfectly ripe avocados with a smooth, creamy texture.
• Toast The Nuts: Pre-toast the pecan pieces for 3-5 minutes to impart crunch and amplified nuttiness.

Keto Chicken Salad FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about making and serving easy low-carb chicken salad at home:

Is Chicken Salad Keto?

Many wonder if you can eat chicken salad on a keto diet. I am happy to say that MOST classic chicken salad recipes ARE indeed keto-friendly! I say “most” because some recipes include grapes, craisins, apples, or even sugar in the mayo dressing. These versions you’ll want to stay away from!

How to Serve Keto Chicken Salad

Enjoy chicken salad loaded on greens, between chaffles, 90-second bread, cloud bread for sandwiches, stuffed in avocados or peppers, and crackers or chips for dipping. You can also use store-bought low-carb bread and crackers.

Get creative with mix-ins like bacon, different herbs and spices, and substitutions such as tuna or egg salad.

On Greens:

Serve chilled over a fresh, crunchy salad base. Works great with mixed spring greens, spinach, arugula, or romaine lettuce.

Stuffed:

For a veggie-packed meal, stuff keto chicken salad into halved avocados, hollowed-out bell peppers, cucumber cups, or celery stalks.

If you are following more of a ‘dirty keto’ diet, you can, of course, serve this chicken salad with keto crackers, keto tortilla chips, low-carb store-bought crackers, or better yet, in a low-carb tortilla, or low-carb bread.

What Is The Best Type Of Chicken To Use?

I always have chicken cooked and pre-shredded in the freezer since many keto dinners call for it. Shredded chicken is so easy to make in bulk when I meal prep. Check out how to make crockpot shredded chicken for instructions how to make shredded chicken and freeze for later. Making it ahead of time helps turn a recipe that usually takes hours into one that can be ready in less than 30 minutes.

If you are short on time and can stop at the grocery store, you can also use a pre-roasted rotisserie chicken and shred that using two forks. Or you can chop it up using a knife.

If you do not want to use shredded chicken or do not have any on hand, you can saute or grill some chicken breasts. First, make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Then, instead of shredding it, you can dice your chicken into small cubes about 1/2″ and add it to your salad.

Tip* Grilling your chicken can add a TON of extra flavor and smokiness to your chicken salad.

What Kind Of Onion Is Best?

Sweet and mellow varieties such as white, yellow, or Vidalia are best, so they nicely flavor the salad without overpowering it. Shallots and leeks work well, too!

Keto Chicken Salad Storage

Keeps 3-5 days refrigerated in an airtight container. It’s notideal to freeze this recipe. For optimal flavor and texture, serve chicken salad chilled.

Keto Chicken Salad Variations

Make this easy recipe your own with these tasty low-carb ingredient swaps and additions:

Flavored Keto Chicken Salads

• Buffalo Chicken Salad – use hot sauce and blue cheese crumbles
• BBQ Keto Chicken Salad – stir in sugar-free BBQ sauce
• BLT Chicken Salad topped with crisp bacon pieces
• Curry Chicken Salad with almonds, raisins and curry seasoning

Protein Swap Options

Mix up the main protein with tuna, shrimp, egg, turkey, or ham

Nut & Seed Substitutions

Use different nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, or sunflower seeds. For nut-free chicken salad, use toasted sunflower/pumpkin seeds instead for nut-free

Veggie Add-Ins

Add chopped veggies like Celery, zucchini, bell pepper, cucumber, or broccoli.

Creative Dressings

Sub some mayo with avocado, Greek yogurt, sour cream

Spice & Seasoning Ideas

Spice it up with garlic, cayenne, curry powder, dry mustard, onion powder, salt, pepper, and other favorite seasonings.

More Keto Salad Recipes:

• Keto Broccoli Bacon Salad
• Keto Taco Salad (with Creamy Dressing)
• Marinated Keto Cole Slaw
• Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
• Keto Egg Salad with Bacon