This Classic Hot Chicken Salad is a bit of an unusual dish. It is actually a baked casserole made with chicken salad ingredients and a cheese-and-breadcrumb topping. I like to top with toasted almonds and toasted bread crumbs to give the “salad” extra texture and flavor.
To make this, start by combining cooked chicken, celery, mayonnaise, toasted almonds, lemon juice, and chopped onion in a bowl. Season and stir in ½ a cup of the toasted bread crumbs. Transfer the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and the remaining toasted bread crumbs. Bake the casserole until the topping has browned and the filling is bubbly around the edges. Serve the dish hot and garnished with green onions or parsley with cooked rice and a tossed salad, steamed broccoli, or green beans on the side.
To make the Classic Hot Chicken Salad, you will need the following ingredients:
Preheat the oven to 425 °F and butter a 2-quart baking dish or baking pan.
Combine 3 cups of cubed cooked chicken, 2 cups of thinly sliced celery, 1 cup of mayonnaise, ½ cup of toasted almonds, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of chopped onion in a bowl. Taste and season with salt, if needed.
Stir ½ a cup of the toasted bread crumbs into the chicken mixture.
Spoon the chicken mixture into the greased baking dish and sprinkle with ½ cup of shredded cheese.
Mix the remaining 1 cup of toasted bread crumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the cheese layer.
Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
Serve hot with cooked rice and a tossed salad, steamed broccoli, or green beans.
This Classic Hot Chicken Salad is a delicious casserole made with salad ingredients! Remember to tag #cookmerecipes if you try this recipe!
Delicious! Made this for a family gathering and it was a hit. Everyone loved the crunchy topping and warm flavors. It brought back memories of my grandma's cooking.
I made this Classic Hot Chicken Salad for a family dinner and it was a hit! My kids loved the crunchy topping. It's so easy to make, and I added some extra almonds for a little crunch. It brought back memories of my mom's cooking, which made it even more special!
Wow, this is amazing!
Superb chicken delight.
This Hot Chicken Salad recipe is suuuper easy and soooo good! I made it for my friends during our Netflix binge night, and it was a hit. Everyone loved the crunch from the almonds and the cheesy topping. Definitely makin' it again.
Tried this recipe for a potluck and it was a hit! Super easy, and my kids loved it. Went back for seconds!
Simply delicious dish! My kids loved it, and so easy to make. Perfect for family gatherings.
I made this Classic Hot Chicken Salad for my family last weekend. They loved it. It's so simple, yet the taste is superb. I used leftover chicken, and it came together quickly. The crunchy topping really made it special. Will definitely make again.
Delizioso!
OMG, this Classic Hot Chicken Salad is a total game-changer! I whipped it up for a cozy family dinner, and my kiddos couldn't get enough! The crunch from the toasted almonds and cheesy topping is just yumm. Super simple and delish—definitely gonna make it again soon!
¡Increíble! Esta ensalada calientes de pollo es lo mejor que he probado. Me encantó hacerlo para mis amigos.
I recently made this Classic Hot Chicken Salad for a cozy dinner with my husband. It was super easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. The toasted almonds added a crunchy twist that we both loved. It's now one of our go-to meals for a quick and filling dish.
Wow! This chicken salad is a game changer. My wife and I had a dinner party, and everyone loved it! Simple to make and sooo tasty!
After a long day, I whipped up this dish. The cheesy topping and crunch from the almonds reminded me of family dinners growing up. Simple and comforting, it was a hit with my husband.
Superb comfort food!
