Description
Southern hot chicken salad casserole combines crispy, creamy textures with a nostalgic comfort food charm. Home cooks appreciate its simple preparation and crowd-pleasing flavors, making it perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups sliced celery
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 4.5 oz (128 g) sliced mushrooms, drained
- 8 oz (227 g) sliced water chestnuts, drained
- ¼ cup chopped pimiento, drained
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- 3 tbsps lemon juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 cup potato chips, crushed
Instructions
- Almond Preparation: Toast slivered almonds in a shallow pan at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown and aromatic, being careful to prevent burning.
- Mixture Assembly: Combine toasted almonds, cooked chicken, onion, celery, pimiento, water chestnuts, mushrooms, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and lemon juice in a separate bowl until smooth and fully integrated, creating a creamy binding sauce.
- Ingredient Coating: Fold the cheese sauce into the chicken and vegetable mixture, thoroughly coating all components and achieving a rich, uniform consistency.
- Dish Preparation: Grease a 13 x 9-inch (33 x 23 centimeters) baking dish and evenly spread the chicken mixture across the surface.
- Topping Application: Generously scatter remaining Cheddar cheese, crushed potato chips, and Parmesan cheese over the casserole to create a crispy, golden-brown crust.
- Baking Process: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese topping becomes golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Perfectly Toast Nuts: Watch almonds closely during toasting to prevent burning, stirring occasionally for even golden-brown color and maximum flavor release.
- Balance Texture Layers: Combine crunchy water chestnuts and mushrooms with soft chicken for a delightful multi-textural eating experience.
- Creamy Sauce Secret: Whisk mayonnaise, sour cream, and lemon juice thoroughly to create a smooth, tangy binding sauce that enhances overall dish richness.
- Crispy Topping Trick: Crush potato chips and mix with Parmesan cheese for an irresistible golden-brown crust that adds crunch and extra savory flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 512
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg