4.84 from 6 votes

Hot Chicken Salad

Hot Chicken Salad is 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.

A bowl of hot chicken salad.


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. 

recipe binder image

Why You’ll Love Hot Chicken Salad

  • A twist on a traditional chicken salad
  • Great choice to make for a gathering​Easy 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

Get our FREE
e-cookbook

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    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
    Ingredients to make hot chicken salad.

    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.
    Steps to make hot chicken salad.
    • Step Two: Stir in cooked chicken, lemon juice and salt. Reduce heat to low and cover for 5 minutes.
    Steps to make hot chicken salad.
    • Step Three: Remove skillet from heat and stir in mayonnaise and almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
    Steps to make hot chicken salad.

    Equipment Needed

    This post contains affiliate links.

    What to Serve with Hot Chicken Salad

    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.

    A bowl of hot chicken salad.

    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!
    A close up of hot chicken salad.

    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.

    A bowl of hot chicken salad.

    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.

    Hot chicken salad on a fork.

    Chicken Salad Recipes

    Want more Chicken Salad recipes? 

    You might also like this Tuna Salad.

    Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

    4.84 from 6 votes

    Hot Chicken Salad

    Created by Stacie Vaughan
    Servings 8
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes
    Total Time 20 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.

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ¼ cup onions minced
    • 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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 30g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 648mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g

    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.


    The Best of Simply Stacie ebook cover.

    free ebook!

    The Best of Simply Stacie

    When you subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    3 Comments

    1. Absolutely perfect way to use leftovers for my office lunch …. Thank you Stacie and enjoy your day 🙂

    2. CAROL-ANN REDMON says:

      FANTASTIC RECIPE!! CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE SOME FOR MY FAMILY!!

    3. Mariy Foster says:

      5 stars
      That seems test like so amazing and I just going to haven Thanks for that.

    Similar Posts