Some Like It Hot

I’m a big fan of chicken salad…HUGE.  I’ve always eaten it cold, but when Paula Deen served this up hot, I knew I had to try!  I always love a spin on an original and this chicken salad recipe definitely has a twist!  This chicken salad is great inside pita pockets or served all by it’s lonesome :)  And it most certainly makes a WONDERFUL dinner!  To trick it up even more, I added a little twist to this recipe so it’s not exactly as Paula would make it…but I think she’d like it just as much :)

HOT CHICKEN SALAD

2 cups chicken breast meat, cubed {I used rotisserie chicken, shredded & chopped, because it’s easier!!!}

1 cup diced celery

1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning {I used Tony Chachere’s.  The original recipe called for 1/2 tsp. of salt, but I substituted this instead}

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup shredded cheese {I used a colby & monterrey jack blend…and I probably used something a little closer to a cup & a half}

Potato Chips

Preheat oven to 350 & spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray {PAM}.  Meanwhile, cut your celery & shred/cube your chicken.  Add both to a mixing bowl.

 

Toss in the mayonnaise, cajun seasoning, pepper, cheese, and lemon juice.

Mix well until evenly coated.  Transfer mixture to an 8x8 baking dish.

Top with crushed potato chips.  The original recipe calls for 2/3 cup of crushed chips, but you can use more/less depending on your preference.  Pretty sure we used more!

Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbly.  Remove from oven & serve HOT!  We put ours inside pita pockets and they were seriously TO-DIE-FOR!  Mr. Spouse even ate it the next day for lunch!  SO good! 

I’ve had this hot chicken salad with slivered almonds {in the original recipe}, but if I’m cooking I choose not to use nuts in my recipes….I’m not the biggest fan!!!  I’ve also had it topped with BBQ chips instead of regular potato and it gives it a WHOLE different taste…really good!  I prefer to serve ours with the regular chips and it’s the PERFECT finish to the meal!  Can’t wait for you to try it for yourself!!!