Unbelievably Tasty Keto Hot Chicken Salad Recipe - Easy Low-Carb Delight!

For those seeking a comforting, flavorful, and keto-friendly meal, look no further than the keto hot chicken salad. This recipe transforms the classic chicken salad into a warm, satisfying dish that's perfect for lunch or dinner. Whether you're a devoted chicken enthusiast or someone who prefers other meats, this recipe is sure to please with its ease of preparation and customizable flavors.

Why This Recipe Works

This keto hot chicken salad recipe is a winner for several reasons:

Simplicity: It's incredibly easy to make, requiring minimal cooking skills and readily available ingredients.
Speed: The salad is ready to eat in just 10 minutes.
Customizable: The recipe can be easily adapted to suit individual preferences and dietary needs.
Family-Friendly: The taste resembles a classic chicken salad, making it appealing to both adults and children.
Versatile: It can be served in various ways, such as lettuce wraps, cucumber slices, or low-carb bread.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prepare this dish ahead of time and put it in the refrigerator and pull it out and warm it up in the oven right before you’re ready to eat.

Ingredients You'll Need

The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. Here's what you'll need:

Shredded Cooked Chicken: Whether you use chicken breasts, thighs, leftover roasted chicken, or a store-bought rotisserie chicken, make sure it's cooked and shredded.
Mayonnaise: Opt for a shop-bought mayonnaise, ideally made with avocado oil or olive oil.
Parsley: Fresh parsley, either curly or flat-leaf, adds a touch of freshness.
Garlic Powder: For a hint of garlic flavor, use garlic powder or a finely chopped garlic clove.
Green Onions: The green parts of spring onions (scallions) are preferred for their milder taste.
Celery: Finely chopped celery adds a pleasant crunch.
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds brightness and acidity.
Mustard: Adds a tangy flavor.
Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Cheese: Cheddar cheese is a great option for topping.
Optional Add-ins: Bacon, pickles, nuts (pecans, almonds, or walnuts), red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or hard-boiled eggs.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create your own keto hot chicken salad:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Prepare the Chicken: If you don't have pre-cooked chicken, cook your chicken in the oven, chop up the meat.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened Neufchatel cheese, nonfat Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, mineral salt, cracked black pepper, and granulated garlic powder.
Add Vegetables and Herbs: Chop the celery finely by slicing the stalk lengthways a few times, then chopping it into very small cubes. Chop the spring onions. Stir the chopped parsley, scallions and celery into the dressing.
Incorporate Chicken: Shred the chicken using 2 forks. Option to cut into small cubes. Fold the shredded chicken into the mixture until well combined.
Add the crunch: Add the diced celery, grated Parmesan cheese, minced red onion, diced water chestnuts, sliced toasted almonds, crumbled bacon, and chopped chicken.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the mixture into a baking dish, or divide the chicken salad between eight oven-safe ramekins. Put the ramekins on a baking sheet.
Bake: Bake for 15 minutes, until bubbly and the cheese is melted.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve hot.

Variations and Customization

One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. Here are some ideas to customize it to your liking:

Coronation Chicken: Omit the mustard and parsley. Add 2 teaspoons mild curry powder and a pinch of cinnamon plus 2-3 sun-dried tomatoes instead of the traditional mango chutney for sweetness.
Soft and Creamy: Omit the celery and add chopped hard-boiled eggs or avocado.
Spicy: Add a dash of hot sauce or red pepper flakes to the mixture.
Smoky: Use smoked paprika or add a few drops of liquid smoke for a smoky flavor.
Cheesy: Experiment with different types of cheese, such as mozzarella, provolone, or Gruyere.
Buffalo Chicken Salad: Add hot sauce to make a keto buffalo chicken salad spread.

Serving Suggestions

Enjoy your keto hot chicken salad in a variety of ways:

Lettuce Wraps: Serve the salad in lettuce leaves for a light and refreshing meal.
Cucumber Slices: Top cucumber slices with the salad for a crunchy and low-carb snack.
Low-Carb Bread or Crackers: Spread the salad on your favorite keto bread or crackers for a satisfying sandwich or snack.
With Vegetables: Serve with fresh veggies like celery sticks or sweet bell peppers.
As a Dip: Serve it with a mild garlic cauliflower rice side dish. If you are crunched for time, just chop up some raw veggies and dip them in the creamy sauce.
With Side Dishes: Since this is a mild baked chicken recipe, almost any side dish you make will taste delicious! Add some low-carb everything bagel breadsticks. Or really indulge in dairy and make some cheesy garlic spinach parmesan zucchini boats on the side. Of course, you can never go wrong with some crispy keto bang bang cauliflower either.

Tips and Tricks

Make Ahead: Prepare the salad ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Toast the almonds: Want to get perfectly toasted almonds every time? There’s no need for any kind of oil or cooking spray. Keep stirring them for another minute or so while they continue to toast.
Adjust Seasoning: Taste the salad before baking and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Use Quality Ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will impact the flavor of the salad. Use fresh herbs, good quality mayonnaise, and flavorful cheese.
Don't Overbake: Be careful not to overbake the salad, as the mayonnaise can become greasy.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Keto chicken salad keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: I don't recommend to freeze it. Mayonnaise does not freeze well.

Nutritional Information

1. 5g net carbs per serving.
Nutritional information is calculated using My Fitness Pal Pro. All sugar alcohols are subtracted from the final carb count.

Read also: Low-Carb Chicken Salad with Egg

Read also: Healthy Keto Meal

tags: #keto #hot #chicken #salad #recipe