Mildred Lovett'S Hot Chicken Salad
Mildred Lovett's Hot Chicken Salad offers a creamy, savory blend of chicken, mushrooms, and crunchy toppings, perfect for comforting family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
- 3 cups chicken, cooked, deboned and cubed ⓘ
- 1 cup cream of chicken soup ⓘ
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup diced celery ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon grated onion or minced ⓘ
- 1 cup cooked rice ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon salt ⓘ
- 1 small can water chestnuts ⓘ
- 1 cup crushed corn flakes or potato chips ⓘ
- 1/4 pound melted butter ⓘ
- 1 cup slivered almonds or pecans ⓘ
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced ⓘ
Instructions
- Mix the cooked, deboned, and cubed chicken with the cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, diced celery, grated or minced onion, cooked rice, lemon juice, salt, water chestnuts, and sliced mushrooms.
- Put the mixture into a greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
- Top with crushed corn flakes or potato chips, slivered almonds or pecans, and melted butter.
- Bake for 25 minutes at 350°F (175°C).
Tips & Substitutions
For a creamier texture, consider using sour cream in place of some mayonnaise. If you're short on time, rotisserie chicken works perfectly as a substitute for cooked chicken. Feel free to add in other vegetables like bell peppers or peas for extra color and flavor. If you prefer a crunchier topping, try using crushed tortilla chips instead of corn flakes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this dish as a comforting main course, accompanied by a fresh side salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal. It also pairs beautifully with Lemon Grilled Salmon for those who enjoy a variety of flavors. Consider adding some crusty bread or rolls on the side for a satisfying touch.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken salad in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes until warmed through. If you prefer, you can also microwave individual portions on medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Mildred Lovett'S Hot Chicken Salad contains roughly 378 calories, with 6g protein, 25g carbohydrates, and 30g fat. It is a good source of protein (12% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1084mg per serving (47% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dish ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the chicken salad mixture a day in advance. Just store it in the refrigerator and add the topping right before baking. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully, making it even tastier.
Can I freeze leftovers?
While it's not ideal, you can freeze the chicken salad before baking. Just ensure it's in a freezer-safe container. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed. However, the texture may change slightly after freezing.
What can I substitute for water chestnuts?
If you don't have water chestnuts, you can use diced jicama or even chopped apples for a different crunch. Each option will give a unique flavor and texture to the dish, keeping it interesting.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).