Recipe

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This 5-minute canned chicken caprese salad is the ultimate healthy and high-protein school lunch.

Learn how to make this delicious caprese salad with canned chicken and pack it so that it stays fresh and flavorful until it’s time to dig in later!

canned chicken in a lunchbox salad with strawberries

Canned Chicken Caprese Salad for Teens

My daughter often wakes up late but loves to pack herself a teen-worthy lunch for school (worthy of snapping pics for social), so this Caprese salad with canned chicken is a go-to on a rushed morning. It’s hassle-free, nutritious and a delicious high-protein school lunch!

While you've got your veggies out, make a Caprese bagel sandwich, prep this cobb salad ahead for the next day, or quickly microwave bacon and make this next-level BLT salad; my teens are obsessed with it!

Ingredients

This chicken caprese salad uses fresh, simple ingredients you likely already have, with exact measurements in the recipe card below. Here’s what you need to make it along with possible swaps:

Chopped lettuce: a crunchy, low-calorie base for our salad. I recommend romaine, but you can use iceberg or even spinach for a nutrient boost.
Canned chicken: the real time-saver! Drain the liquid, and it's ready to use, just like in this canned chicken wrap.
Grape tomatoes: for a burst of nutrition and sweetness. I love grape and cherry tomatoes for this because they are available year-round.
Avocado: for healthy fats and creamy texture. Add at the last minute if possible to reduce browning.
Mini mozzarella balls: a key part of any caprese salad! My son loves the mini balls, but you can easily cut a large mozzarella ball into bite-sized pieces.
Black olives: for a tangy, savory bite. If you want a more robust taste, try kalamata or green olives.
Salad dressing: this epic homemade white wine vinaigrette will really bring all the flavors together, but you can use whatever dressing you love.

lettuce salad in a lunch container with olives, tomatoes, diced avocado, cheese and canned chicken

How to Make a Canned Chicken Caprese Salad

Enjoy this quick and tasty salad with canned chicken at home or follow these tips to keep everything in peak condition for school:

Assemble the base
Start by making a bed of lettuce directly into a hard, lunch container with a lid.
Layer ingredients
Layer the heavier ingredients, like chicken, avocado and tomato, at the bottom and lighter ingredients, like mozzarella and olives, on top. This helps protect lighter ingredients from getting squished and keeps the salad evenly balanced.
Dressing
If you are going to eat this salad now, you can go ahead and add the dressing. If not, pack it separately in a small container and wait to add it until just before eating. This will help keep the salad fresh and the lettuce from wilting.
Pack it for school
Pack your salad, dressing container and any sides in an insulated lunch bag and refrigerate until ready for school.

Packing Dressing for School Lunch

A simple trick to keep your salad fresh and avoid a leaky mess is to pack the dressing in a small, leak-proof container, separate from the salad. Then, drizzle it over the salad right before eating to prevent a soggy salad.

How to Keep Salad Fresh for Lunch at School

Here are some additional packing tips that will keep everything intact and ensure your lunch is a hit every time!

Use the right container
A durable container where you can layer the salad ingredients will keep everything crisp!

Keep it safe
Consider using an insulated lunch bag or add an ice pack to regulate the temperature inside.

Dry your Lettuce
Wash your lettuce and make sure it's completely dry before assembling your salad. You can even store lettuce so it will last longer to make meal prep easier.

Prevent excess moisture
Place a folded paper towel on top of your salad before closing the container. This will absorb any extra moisture and keep your salad as fresh as when you made it!

More Healthy Lunch Salads for Teens

If your teen is a last-minute lunch packer like mine, try this lunch salad with deli meat and this chicken strip salad for teens. Both pack in nutrients and protein and can be packed real fast! Add a lunchbox fruit salad for a vitamin boost.

Caprese Salad with Canned Chicken

a school lunch salad with tomatoes in a lunch container

Servings: 1 salad

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

This 5-minute canned chicken caprese salad is the ultimate healthy and high-protein school lunch.

5 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

2 cups chopped lettuce
3-4 ounces canned chicken, liquid drained
½ cup grape tomatoes, halved
¼ avocado, diced
1 ounce mini mozzarella balls
1 tablespoon black olives, sliced
2 tablespoons salad dressing, such as a white wine vinaigrette

Instructions

Assemble:

Make a bed of lettuce in the bottom of a lunch container. Top it with the canned chicken, tomatoes, diced avocado, mozzarella, and black olives. Drizzle with dressing if eating the salad immediately. If not, hold off on adding the dressing.

Pack it for Lunch:

Fill a small lidded container with the salad dressing. Refrigerate the dressing and the salad until it's time to leave and pack it inside a lunch bag with an ice pack. Drizzle the dressing right before lunch.