Grammy's Recipe Book Mains

Baked Chicken Salad

the quilting Christmas party325°F ovenserves 6 to 8

Prep
40 min
Cook
40 min
Rest
8 hrchill at least 8 hours
Total
9 hr 20 minstart to eating

Times are our estimates for Grammy's recipe, with unhurried prep.

Grammy's handwritten page for Baked Chicken Salad
Page 29 · full size

As written

Word for word from her page, with her spelling and line breaks. [?] marks a word we couldn't read.

[a printed recipe, starred, with a handwritten note]

Baked Chicken Salad
4 cups cooked, chopped chicken breasts
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
4 eggs, hard-boiled, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can chopped pimentos, drained
2/3 cup chopped almonds, toasted
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 (10 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups crushed potato chips

• Combine all ingredients except crushed potato chips and 1/2 teaspoon
each of salt and pepper in large bowl. Spoon into sprayed
9 x 13-inch baking dish.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours. (Flavor improves when
refrigerated overnight before cooking).
• When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325°.
• Top casserole with crushed potato chips.
• Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until potato chips are light brown.
Serves 6 to 8.

Here's the recipe from the Quilting Christmas
party - Enjoy!

Grammy's recipe

Her recipe, typed out to cook from: her amounts and her words, with abbreviations spelled out and the steps numbered.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups cooked, chopped chicken breasts
  • ¾ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup chopped onion
  • 1½ cups chopped celery
  • 4 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped
  • 1 (4-ounce) can chopped pimentos, drained
  • ⅔ cup chopped almonds, toasted
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 (10-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
  • ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper
  • 1½ cups crushed potato chips

Method

  1. Combine everything except the potato chips in a large bowl, with the salt and pepper. Spoon into a sprayed 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours. It’s better overnight.
  3. When ready to bake, heat the oven to 325°.
  4. Top with the crushed potato chips and bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the chips are light brown.

Ideas to play with

Twists and variations to try. Suggestions, not hers.

  • Rotisserie chicken

    A store-bought rotisserie chicken gives you about 4 cups, which saves time.

  • Lighter

    Swap half the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.

  • Different crunch

    Top with crushed Ritz crackers or French-fried onions instead of potato chips.

  • Individual dishes

    Bake in ramekins for a luncheon and cut the time to about 25 minutes.