Hot Chicken Salad Bake

Name: Hot Chicken Salad Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked, diced chicken; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1 cup celery, diced; 1/2 cup slivered almonds; 1/4 cup onion, minced; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese; 1 cup crushed crackers or breadcrumbs; 2 tbsp melted butter

6 servings15 min prep25 min cookEasy

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Hot Chicken Salad Bake

Story updated September 18, 2026

This baked, casserole version of chicken salad emerged from mid-20th-century American home cooking, particularly Southern and Midwestern community cookbooks, which topped a creamy chicken mixture with crunchy toppings like crackers or almonds and baked it for a warm potluck dish.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

3 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup crushed crackers or breadcrumbs
2 tbsp melted butter

Instructions

1Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a baking dish.
2Mix the chicken, mayonnaise, celery, almonds, onion, and lemon juice together in a large bowl.
3Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and top with the shredded cheddar cheese.
4Toss the crushed crackers with the melted butter and sprinkle over the top.
5Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
6Let cool slightly before serving.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…