This is not your average chicken salad! Hot Chicken Salad is served warm, with crackers for scooping it up. It’s topped with melted cheddar and crushed potato chips for lots of crunch!
Chicken salad is always a favorite, but this Hot Chicken Salad knocks it out of the park! It’s packed with chicken and celery, which are two classic chicken salad ingredients. It also includes hard boiled eggs, chopped pecans for crunch, and the two show-stopping toppings: shredded cheddar and crushed potato chips.
The dip is baked in the oven, and it emerges bubbling and gooey, ready for scooping up. I love it with an assortment of crackers, with baby carrots and celery sticks for dipping, or even just by itself with a salad on the side.
The recipe is from an old church cookbook, and it’s perfect for parties, gatherings with friends, or cozy evenings at home. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients
- Chopped cooked chicken is the star of this dish. I used pre-cooked chicken from my local Costco, which I chopped into half inch pieces.
- Celery and pecans add lots of crunch.
- Hard boiled eggs are a fun surprise ingredient. Everyone loves when these are included!
- Mayonnaise holds it all together. You could use regular or light.
- Shredded cheddar melts and gets gooey on top—yum!
- Crushed potato chips are an unexpected addition to the top. They add the perfect amount of crunch!
How to make hot chicken salad
Start by hard boiling the eggs. I like this tutorial on how to hard boil eggs for an easy method.
Then, chop the cooked chicken into half inch pieces. I used pre-cooked grilled chicken strips from Costco. Tyson also sells these at regular grocery stores. You could also use rotisserie chicken, leftover plain chicken, or just cook it from raw in the oven, on the stovetop, or on the grill. Either chicken breast or chicken thighs (boneless and skinless) work, or a mix of both.
Next, crush the potato chips. I put a large handful of chips into a plastic sandwich bag, seal it, and then crush the chips with my hands. It’s easy and doesn’t make a mess.
Then, combine the chicken, celery, onion, hard boiled eggs, lemon juice, salt, and pecans in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine.
Add the mayonnaise, and stir to combine.
Pour the mixture into a greased 13×9 inch dish. Spread it evenly so it covers the bottom. You could even use a slightly smaller, decorative casserole dish for this—mine is 11.5×9 inches.
Sprinkle the shredded cheddar on top, followed by the crushed potato chips.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly and warm. Serve while it’s still warm, with crackers for scooping.
FAQs
Is hot chicken salad gluten-free?
This recipe doesn’t have any gluten-containing ingredients (but check the labels of any packaged items just to be sure!). Serve it with gluten-free crackers to enjoy it without any gluten.
Can I make hot chicken salad dairy-free?
To make it dairy-free, use a dairy-free cheese for the top. The rest of the ingredients don’t contain dairy, but check the label of anything packaged just in case.
What type of potato chips are best for the top?
Use potato chips that you like! I used kettle cooked potato chips, just a regular variety. I think jalapeño chips or cheese flavored chips would be good, too!
How do I make a hot chicken salad sandwich?
Cut a croissant in half and spoon the hot chicken salad in the middle. Top with lettuce and tomato, and serve. It would also be good on baguette or thick slices of toast.
How to customize the recipe
As with many savory recipes, this one is easy to customize and/or tweak for your preferences and what you have on hand. Here are a few ideas to get started:
– Use leftover cooked chicken, a rotisserie chicken, or pre-grilled chicken strips for the chicken. Really any chicken with a simple seasoning or no seasoning works well.
– Use light mayonnaise instead of regular mayonnaise.
– Sprinkle shredded monterey jack, or your favorite type of shredded cheese, on the top.
– Substitute flavored potato chips in place of regular potato chips. If you like spice, try jalapeño flavored chips on top!
– Don’t like pecans? Leave them out, or substitute walnuts instead.
– In a rush? Skip the hard boiled eggs. That’s the step that takes the most time, aside from the 25–30 minutes of baking time.
More party appetizers
Hot Chicken Salad really is perfect for a party. Put an assortment of crackers next to it, and let your guests scoop it up!
If you’re serving it for a luncheon or meal, serve it with croissants and/or thick slices of toast for sandwiching the chicken salad between. A big green salad or a platter of veggies with dip are both great choices for a side dish.
If an appetizer buffet is what you’re after, Stuffed Potato Skins, Bacon Wrapped Dates soaked in Brandy, and a Simple Cheese Board are a few of my go-to recipes that I know everyone will gobble up.
If you make this recipe, please leave me a rating below, or tag me on Instagram or Pinterest. I love hearing from you!
Hot Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 2 cups diced celery (about 6–7 stalks)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 hard boiled eggs, chopped
- ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1⅓ cups mayonnaise
- 1 cup crushed potato chips
- 1 cup grated cheddar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, pecans, celery, salt, hard boiled eggs, onion, and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Gently mix in the mayonnaise.
- Grease a 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray. Pour the chicken mixture into the pan and spread it out evenly. Top evenly with the cheddar, then with the crushed potato chips.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling. Serve immediately on its own, or with crackers and veggies for dipping.
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