Hot Chicken Salad is an easy casserole made with simple ingredients like rice, celery, and cream of chicken soup. Almonds and potato chips give it a tasty crunch!
I like to serve this chicken casserole with tossed green salad, sweet cooked carrots, and fruit salad. It’s an easy dinner that can be made ahead of time.
A good friend brought this chicken dish to a luncheon years ago, and I made sure I got the recipe from her. I then proceeded to forget about it. I stumbled on it a few weeks ago, and I am so glad I made it!
It is so simple to toss together, especially if you have leftover rice. You can even throw it together the night before, then refrigerate. Just add the potato chips right before baking. Perfect for busy nights!
Cream of chicken soup and mayonnaise make this dish creamy, but celery and almonds give it a nice crunch. Potato chips on top add the perfect touch.
I accidentally cooked mine longer than the recommended time, and I actually liked it that the edges got a little crunchy. But it will be a little more creamy if you stick with 25 minutes.
Can I substitute ingredients in my hot chicken salad?
-Absolutely, this recipe is very versatile.
-You can use brown rice or even wild rice.
-You could add cheese to the filling. It’s common to add a little cheddar cheese, but feel free to use whatever cheese your family likes.
-If you don’t have potato chips, you can use crushed up crackers, croutons, or even dry stuffing mix on top.
-You can substitute pecans or cashews for the almonds, or leave out the nuts entirely.
-If your family doesn’t like celery, you can substitute green peas, or leave them out.
The possibilities are pretty endless. If you give it a try and change things up a little, I’d love to know how it turns out!
If you’re looking for an easy chicken dinner the whole family will love, give this a try!
Looking for more family friendly chicken main dishes? Try these:
- Chicken and Biscuits Casserole
- Easy Cashew Chicken
- Chicken ala King
- Chicken Pillows
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Chicken Flautas
- Teriyaki Chicken
- Italian Chicken Pasta
- Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
- Monterey Chicken
Hot Chicken Salad
Hot Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast diced or shredded
- 1 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
- 1 Tbsp dry minced onion
- 3 stalks celery diced
- 2 cups cooked long grain rice
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- 1 cup crushed potato chips I used Ruffles
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients but potato chips in a large mixing bowl.
- Spread into a greased 9x13" pan. Top with crushed potato chips.
- Bake uncovered at 350° for 25-30 minutes or till hot and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
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I visited my aunt that loved to cook several years ago. She had a “ Hot chicken salad“ prepared for us the first night we arrived. I had never had it before and it was the best Chicken dish I had ever eaten, I had to have the receipt and have been making it ever since.
You must add a can of chopped water chestnuts to eat it, gives it the great crunch needed also a tablespoonful or two of lemon or lime juice. We have always used Kellogg’s special K with sliced almonds as a topping.
I usually make a double batch, cook one batch and freeze the other batch for a later meal.
I love the idea of adding some water chestnuts for crunch, I’ll have to try that! Thanks for sharing all your adaptations, they sound yummy!
Have you ever tried freezing this?
I haven’t tried freezing it. I haven’t had great luck freezing recipes with mayonnaise in them. I would also worry that the celery and almonds would get soggy. It would probably still be edible, but not optimal.
Ok thank you Kara. I’m going to try it tomorrow 😊
Can you add an extra can of cream of chicken soup to help it not be dry
Yes, if you like it saucy, you can definitely add another can of soup!
This recipe looks like a winner! I love the addition of potato chips!
So simple and delicious!! And you can never go wrong with chicken salad!
So yummy and such great comfort food – love those potato chips on top!
The potato chips on top are brilliant! That alone would have me diving in!
The potato chips definitely make it extra yummy!
My family loves this recipe!! The creamy and crunchy together is so good!!
So glad your family loves it. The crunch does make it extra tasty. 🙂
I made this a couple of days ago and my family ate the whole 9×13 pan even with the celery! Delicious and easy.
Yay! I’m so glad that it was a hit with everyone in the family!