It’s time to turn up the heat on traditional chicken salad. Hot Chicken Salad Casserole is just as creamy, savory, and meaty as its cold cousin, but now in the form of a hearty home-cooked casserole. Filled with crunchy nuts and topped with crispy potato chips, Hot Chicken Salad Casserole literally sounds as delicious as it tastes. Melty and aromatic, this is one dish you can’t pass up!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup almonds, slivered
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup celery, diced
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more, to taste
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated, divided
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 1 cup potato chips, lightly crushed
- fresh parsley, optional, to taste, chopped, for garnish
- scallions, optional, to taste, sliced, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Grease a 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –In a dry skillet, toast the almonds over low heat until just fragrant and golden-brown, about 3-5 minutes. Keep a close eye on them and stir frequently, as they can burn quickly.
Step 4 –Transfer the toasted almonds to a plate.
Step 5 –In the same skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Step 6 –Once the oil is shimmering, add the celery and the onion.
Step 7 –Cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 8 –Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 9 –In a large bowl, stir together the toasted almonds, sautéed onion mixture, the chicken, 1/4 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper.
Step 10 –In a medium bowl, stir together the 1/2 cup cheddar, the mayonnaise, the sour cream, the lemon juice, and the chives.
Step 11 –Add the mayonnaise mixture to the chicken mixture, stirring to combine.
Step 12 –Taste for seasoning, adding the extra salt and the extra pepper, as needed.
Step 13 –Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 14 –Sprinkle the top with the remaining cheddar cheese and the potato chips.
Step 15 –Bake uncovered until the cheese melts and the filling is hot, for about 20 minutes.
Step 16 –Garnish with the parsley and the scallions and serve!
