Simple Chicken Salad Recipe
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A simple chicken salad recipe that’s creamy, comforting, and crave-worthy? Yes, please! The combo of creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes, tangy yogurt, and a splash of lime gives it a bright, refreshing vibe. This isn’t your grandma’s potluck chicken salad – it’s a fresh, modern twist that’s light, crisp, and full of flavor, and it’s made in under 15 minutes!
I always make carrot raisin salad as a side for our meals or as a backyard BBQ treat, but when I want to serve something more filling and satisfying, this simple chicken salad recipe never disappoints. It’s light and creamy, unlike the generic mayo-heavy ones you grew up eating at family picnics. For convenience, I use canned chicken as a base, add avocado and cherry tomatoes, and finish it off with a delicious dressing made with yogurt, lemon juice, and spices.
This chicken salad is perfect for meal prep, last-minute entertaining, grab-and-go lunches, or wholesome family dinners. Serve it cold on a warm day, bring it to a picnic, or make it the centerpiece of your next brunch spread. However you enjoy it, you’ll see how easy to love this delicious classic is.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: A full meal that’s ready in 15 minutes or less.
- One-bowl wonder: Everything comes together in one bowl. Hassle-free cleanup!
- No mayo required: It’s got all the creamy goodness you crave, without the heaviness of mayo.
- Versatile: Wrap it in lettuce, stuff it into pita, scoop it with crackers, or spread it on toast – enjoy it however you want.
- Meal prep friendly: Make a batch once and enjoy effortless lunches or snacks throughout the week.
- Party-ready: Easily double or triple the recipe to serve a crowd – perfect for big families or for entertaining.
How to Make Simple Chicken Salad
This recipe is a lighter, fresher alternative to traditional chicken salad. The flavors balance perfectly and every bite is filling! To start making this simple chicken salad recipe, just shred or chop your cooked chicken, mix it with the rest of the ingredients, and you’re good to go – serve it right away or pop it in the fridge for later.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Canned chicken: I use pre-cooked, chopped or shredded canned chicken, but rotisserie, deli, grilled, or poached chicken, or any leftover baked chicken will all work as well. Just don’t use any heavily seasoned or sauced chicken.
- Ripe avocado: Hass avocados are ideal here. Their creamy, buttery texture blends perfectly into the salad.
- Cherry tomatoes: Look for ripe, evenly sized ones. A mix of colors adds a pop of brightness and makes the whole dish more eye-catching.
- Fresh cilantro
- Greek yogurt: Gives the salad a creamy base without feeling heavy.
- Lime (juiced): Use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor. Bottled versions may taste slightly bitter and lack the same brightness.
- Spices and seasonings: I use a blend of garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and ground black pepper for this salad.
- Jalapeño: Totally optional, but great if you like a little heat.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Just mix the ingredients together and enjoy – that’s all there is to this simple chicken salad recipe! While it’s optional, I recommend that you don’t skip the chill time because it’s essential for getting the best flavor and texture, plus your salad will stay fresher for longer.
Step 1: Mix
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients together. Gently fold everything together until well combined.
Step 2: Taste
Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Step 3: Serve
Serve immediately or chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Substitutions
While this recipe calls for ingredients you might already have in your kitchen, you may be missing some or prefer to use alternative ingredients. Here are my ingredient swap ideas:
- Canned chicken: Substitute with cooked turkey.
- Ripe avocado: Replace with mashed hummus, cooked sweet potato, or softened cream cheese.
- Cherry tomatoes: Swap out with ripe grape tomatoes, chopped Roma tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, or quartered heirloom tomatoes.
- Fresh cilantro: Not a fan of cilantro? Use flat-leaf parsley, fresh basil, dill, or chives instead.
- Greek yogurt: Regular plain yogurt, sour cream, crème fraîche, or a spoonful of mayo (or half mayo, half yogurt for balance) are ideal alternatives.
- Lime juice: Substitute with fresh lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar.
- Garlic powder: Swap in minced fresh garlic, roasted garlic paste, garlic salt (reduce added salt accordingly), or onion powder.
- Smoked paprika: Substitute with regular or sweet paprika, or chipotle powder.
- Cumin: Replace with chili powder, taco seasoning, or ground coriander.
- Jalapeño: Use serrano peppers or diced green chiles for more heat, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Expert Tips
- Mash the avocado separately: For a creamier consistency, mash the avocado in a bowl before combining it with the other ingredients. This helps evenly coat everything.
- Stir gently: Once you add the tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings, mix just enough to bring everything together. Overmixing can make the salad watery and mushy.
- Add a little crunch: Want extra texture? Try tossing in chopped cucumber, bell pepper, or even a handful of toasted nuts or seeds.
- Mix it up: Don’t be afraid to get creative! Add crumbled feta or cotija, black beans, or grilled corn can make this salad more filling and full of flavor.
- Keep it cool: Serving on a warm day? Chill your bowl ahead of time to keep everything fresh and crisp longer.
- Taste and adjust: Tomatoes and avocados can vary a lot, so give it a final taste before serving and adjust the lime, salt, or seasoning as needed.
How to Store This Recipe
This chicken salad is at its best when eaten fresh, since the avocado can brown over time. If you’re making it ahead, wait to add the avocado until just before serving to keep everything looking and tasting its best. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a day. Even if the avocado darkens a bit, the flavor will still be great.
What to Serve with Simple Chicken Salad
This simple chicken salad pairs well with a variety of sides to round out your meal. Serve it with crackers, pita chips, tortilla chips, or crusty bread for easy scooping, or tuck it into a sandwich, wrap, or lettuce cups for a more filling option. It also goes great with a side of fresh fruit for meals or a fruit platter at parties, or a light soup like French onion soup or creamy potato and leek soup. For something heartier, serve it alongside roasted potatoes or a grain bowl.
More Easy Chicken Recipes To Try
- Cheesy chicken asparagus bake
- Blackened chicken tenders
- Ruth’s Chris stuffed chicken
- Honey mustard chicken
- Oven-baked apricot chicken
Easy Canned Chicken Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked canned chicken shredded or chopped
- 1 large ripe avocado mashed
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 medium lime juiced
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 medium jalapeño chopped, optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients together. Gently fold everything together until well combined.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Serve immediately or chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a creamier consistency, mash the avocado in a bowl before combining it with the other ingredients. This helps evenly coat everything.
- Once you mix in the tomatoes, herbs, and seasonings, mix just enough to bring everything together. Overmixing can make the salad watery and mushy.
- Want extra texture? Try tossing in chopped cucumber, bell pepper, or even a handful of toasted nuts or seeds.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative! Add crumbled feta or cotija, black beans, or grilled corn can make this salad more filling and full of flavor.
- Serving on a warm day? Chill your bowl ahead of time to keep everything fresh and crisp longer.
- Tomatoes and avocados can vary a lot, so give it a final taste before serving and adjust the lime, salt, or seasoning as needed.
