This keto chicken salad recipe is a simple, delicious low carb lunch that is on the table in just 10 minutes. Serve it in a lettuce wrap, on cucumber slices or low carb bread.
This creamy low carb chicken salad is one of my go-to easy lunch recipes. In fact, it also works well as a light dinner, or take it along to a potluck party!
Just like my keto egg salad and keto tuna salad, it is filling, satisfying and high in protein. And you'll be glad to know that it is just 1.5g net carbs per portion.
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Why This Recipe Works
It's so simple. The salad is ready to eat in only 10 minutes. I prepared a double batch at the beginning of this week, which means we had salad ready for 3 days in a row. We thought it tasted even better on the second day, once the flavors had mingled a little.
It's family-friendly. This salad tastes just like a classic chicken salad since all the ingredients are naturally low in carbs anyway. It is perfect family comfort food and my kids love it. Of course, the recipe does not contain fruit such as grapes or mandarin slices (my grandma's secret ingredient). But I have listed plenty of ideas on how you can customize the recipe further down in the post.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need:
- Shredded cooked chicken - I used chicken breasts. Chicken thighs work well too. More options are using leftover meat from a roasted chicken or simply buy a rotisserie chicken. Just don't use the skin.
- Mayonnaise - This can be a shop-bought mayonnaise, ideally with avocado oil or olive oil. I made a quick homemade keto mayonnaise.
- Mustard - My go-to is Dijon mustard.
- Lemon - Fresh lemon juice gives a nice lift.
- Salt and black pepper - to taste
- Parsley - Either curly or flat leaf parsley.
- Garlic powder - Or use 1 finely chopped garlic clove.
- Green onions - I prefer using only the green parts of the spring onions (scallions). They are milder in taste.
- Celery - Be sure to chop this very finely. I enjoy the crunch it adds.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Instructions
It is surprisingly easy to make a keto chicken salad. Here are the basic steps.
For detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
Step 1: Stir together all ingredients for the dressing in a large mixing bowl: mayonnaise, garlic powder, lemon, mustard, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Mix in the vegetables and herbs - chopped parsley, scallions and celery.
Step 3: Fold in the shredded chicken.
Step 4: Eat!
Expert Tip
Prepare the salad at least 20 minutes before serving and chill it in the fridge. This gives the flavors time to mingle and makes the salad taste even better.
Recipe Variations
There are so many tweaks to change up the recipe. Here are a few tried and tested variations that we enjoy:
Coronation chicken: Omit the mustard and parsley. Add 2 teaspoons mild curry powder and a pinch of cinnamon plus 2-3 sun-dried tomatoes instead of the traditional mango chutney for sweetness. My sugar-free dried cranberries could work well in place of raisins or the grapes that classic chicken salad often contains.
Soft and creamy: Omit the celery and add chopped hard-boiled eggs or avocado.
Crunchy: Chopped bacon, pickles or nuts such as pecans, almonds or walnuts.
Mediterranean: Add mozzarella or feta cheese, black olives and fresh basil.
Herby: Add fresh dill or cilantro (coriander).
Vegetables: Finely chopped bell peppers, red onions, fennel or cucumbers (scrape out the soft inside part of the cucumber so the salad does not get watery).
Serving Suggestion
I like to put low carb chicken salad on a salad leaf and eat it like a sandwich. This is also called a lettuce wrap. Romaine works well because it is sturdy.
It is equally delicious spooned on cucumber slices or in hollowed out tomatoes or in a bell pepper sandwich.
Of course, you can also spread it on keto bread or eat it with keto crackers. Here are more ideas:
Recipe FAQs
To reduce the fat content, swap half of the mayonnaise for Greek yoghurt.
Easy! Make my avocado chicken salad instead.
Keto chicken salad keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I don't recommend to freeze it. Mayonnaise does not freeze well.
More Keto Salad Recipes
- Easy Keto Caesar Salad30 Minutes
- Cauliflower Tabbouleh Salad15 Minutes
- Keto Potato Salad25 Minutes
- Keto Coleslaw (No Mayo)10 Minutes
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating below!
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Recipe
Creamy Keto Chicken Salad
from Sugar Free LondonerNote: The servings slider only changes the first amount in each line and not any subsequent amounts. Please make your own calculations where necessary.
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked and shredded chicken 4 cups
- ½ cup celery finely diced, 60g, 2 stalks
- ¼ cup spring onions chopped, green parts only, 25g, about 2 scallions
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped, 15g
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise 80g
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 16g
- 1 tbsp lemon juice 12g (½ lemon)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 garlic clove, diced
Instructions
- Stir together all ingredients for the dressing: mayonnaise, garlic powder, lemon, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Chop the celery finely by slicing the stalk lengthways a few times, then chopping it into very small cubes. Chop the spring onions. Stir the chopped parsley, scallions and celery into the dressing.
- Shred the chicken using 2 forks. Option to cut into small cubes. Fold the shredded chicken into the salad.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
- bacon
- avocado
- hard-boiled egg
- chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts or almonds)
- Fresh dill or cilantro
- red onions
Jennifer Gottbreht
Can I sub mayo for blended cottage cheese?
Katrin Nürnberger
That should work as well, of course! Season it well - perhaps check out my blended cottage cheese recipe.
Kyla
I don’t like mustard at all but I really liked this recipe!! I made one in a zero carb wrap with lettuce and had to make another because it was so good!!
Sandra
I made this today and added dill, salt, and a little pepper. We are looking forward to having it for lunch tomorrow.
BJ
This is really good. I'm going to use for tuna instead of chicken. Hope that is OK with you!
Katrin Nürnberger
Absolutely! You can also check out my recipe for keto tuna salad 🙂
Emilia
Just made this for lunch! Not sure I'm gonna have anything left over for tomorrow, can't stop eating it looool xx
gigi
Perfect, made it for the weekend. Husband kept going back for more.