Hot Chicken Salad Recipe (2024)

Hot Chicken Saladis a delicious way to use up leftover chicken to enjoy on a chilly day. Served hot, this easy salad is made with tender chicken, celery, green pepper and slivered almonds enveloped in a creamy flavourful dressing.

You typically see chicken salads served cold. That’s fine and dandy. They are delicious. But Hot Chicken Salad? OMG. So so good!

If I had to choose between hot or cold, I’d choose hot any day. Once you try this easy recipe, you’ll see why. Serve it as a main dish or side dish. It’s so versatile for any occasion. Perfect for potlucks (including bridal showers or baby showers), parties, lunch or dinner. It’s a crowd favorite.

The best part? You can use up chicken leftovers to create a mouthwatering meal for your family. This comfort food will be the star of the show.

Why You’ll Love Hot Chicken Salad

A twist on a traditional chicken salad
Great choice to make for a gatheringEasy way to use up leftover chicken
Simple recipe ready to enjoy in 20 minutes
A wonderful addition to your recipe box for quick weeknight meals
Can also be served as a savory dip-style casserole
Each bite is creamy and flavorful
Made with no canned soup

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

There’s nothing fancy about this salad. Just simple and wholesome ingredients that are easy to find at your local grocery store.

Cooked chicken – I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Celery
Onion
Green pepper
Butter – Either salted or unsalted butter
Lemon juice
Slivered almonds
Mayonnaise
Salt
Black pepper

How to Make Hot Chicken Salad

Step One:Add butter to a skillet over medium heat and melt. Stir in onions, green peppers and celery. Saute for 5 minutes.

Step Two:Stir in cooked chicken, lemon juice and salt. Reduce heat to low and cover for 5 minutes.

Step Three:Remove skillet from heat and stir in mayonnaise and almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Equipment Needed

This post contains affiliate links.

What to Serve with Hot Chicken Salad

Green salad
Soup – Try myChicken Tortilla Soup.
Bread or crackers
Fresh fruit
Rice

How to Serve Hot Chicken Salad

There’s a few different ways you can enjoy this Hot Chicken Salad recipe.

Serve it alone in a bowl
Add it to a pita or wrap
Make a sandwich
Serve it on a bed of rice

You can also eat it cold. I know it’s called Hot Chicken Salad, but if you refrigerate it and want to eat it right away that’s fine, too. I prefer it hot, but it still tastes good cold.

Variations and Substitutions

Substitute cream of chicken soup, sour cream or Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise.
Mix in some chopped water chestnuts for extra crunch.
Garnish with sliced green onions for a pop of colour and flavor.
Substitute crushed potato chips or crispy fried onions for the slivered almonds.
Mix in shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Use leftover chicken if you have any. Dark meat is fine too.
Use rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to save time.
Substitute turkey in place of the chicken. Great for leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

Storage Instructions

Store leftover hot creamy chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

For food safety, do not leave it sit out longer than 2 hours.

How to Reheat

Add to a casserole dish and cover in aluminum foil. Reheat at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.

You can also reheat in the microwave at 1 to 2 minutes on high heat.

Can I Freeze Hot Chicken Salad?

No, I don’t recommend freezing because of the mayonnaise based dressing. It will separate and become watery upon thawing it out.

FAQ

Can I use canned chicken in hot chicken salad?

Yes, you can use canned chicken in hot chicken salad. Make sure to first drain the liquid from the can and flake the chicken with a fork so it will blend easily with the other ingredients. It’s an affordable option to try when you’re short on time or don’t have any fresh chicken.

Can I use a different type of meat in hot chicken salad, such as turkey or ham?

Yes, you can use either turkey or ham in place of the chicken. Both options are popular variations. Use the same ingredients and method.

Chicken Salad Recipes

Want more Chicken Salad recipes?

Chicken Salad with Grapes
Greek Chicken Salad
Mustard Chicken Salad
Taco Chicken Salad
Famous Curried Chicken Salad
Classic Chicken Salad.
Chicken BLT Salad

Hot Chicken Salad

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 8

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

A delicious way to use up leftover chicken to enjoy on a cold day. Served hot, this easy salad is made with tender chicken, celery, green pepper and slivered almonds enveloped in a creamy flavourful dressing.

Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

▢ ¼ cup onions minced
▢ ⅔ cup green pepper chopped
▢ 3 cups celery chopped
▢ ¼ cup butter
▢ 4 cups chicken cooked, cut into chunks
▢ 2 tbsp lemon juice
▢ 1 tsp salt
▢ 1 cup mayonnaise
▢ 1 cup slivered almonds
▢ Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Add butter to a skillet over medium heat and melt. Stir in onions, green peppers and celery. Saute for 5 minutes.
Stir in cooked chicken, lemon juice and salt. Reduce heat to low and cover for 5 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat and stir in mayonnaise and almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but any cut of chicken would be fine.

Equipment

Save this recipe for later! Click the heart to save it to your recipe box.

Nutrition

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Course Salads

Cuisine American

Keyword Hot Chicken Salad

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see it! Make sure to share it on your favorite social platform.

Want Even More Recipes?

Join Moms Best Recipes to find more delicious family recipes.

free ebook!

The Best of Simply Stacie

When you subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates!