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Honey Hot Chicken Salad

Honey Hot Chicken Salad

Dive into this delightful Honey Hot Chicken Salad recipe, a perfect blend of sweet heat and creamy comfort that's surprisingly easy to whip up. Learn how to create this incredibly satisfying dish that’s ideal for busy weeknights, potlucks, or simply treating yourself to something special with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chill Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 batches
Course: Salad
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut!
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce adjust to your preferred spice level
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
  • to taste salt
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper
  • pinch cayenne pepper optional, for extra heat

Equipment

  • Medium-sized bowl
  • Small Bowl

Method
 

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the shredded or diced cooked chicken. If using a whole chicken, ensure it’s cooled enough to handle and then pull the meat from the bones and shred or dice it into bite-sized pieces.
    2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
  2. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, hot sauce, and Dijon mustard until well combined and smooth. The honey and hot sauce are the stars here, creating that signature sweet and spicy fusion.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons honey, 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  3. Stir the finely chopped celery and red onion into the dressing. These ingredients add a delightful crunch and a fresh, sharp counterpoint to the rich dressing. If you like a bit more heat, now's the time to add that pinch of cayenne pepper.
    1/4 cup finely chopped celery, 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion, pinch cayenne pepper
  4. Pour the dressing mixture over the prepared chicken. Gently fold everything together with a spoon or spatula, ensuring that all the chicken is evenly coated with the honey hot sauce dressing. Be careful not to overmix, which can make the chicken mushy.
    2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons honey, 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1/4 cup finely chopped celery, 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion, pinch cayenne pepper
  5. Season the Honey Hot Chicken Salad with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. Start with a small amount and add more as needed. A little goes a long way, and tasting is crucial to get it just right.
    to taste salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper
  6. For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the Honey Hot Chicken Salad for at least 15-30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together beautifully.
  7. Serve the Honey Hot Chicken Salad chilled. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and herbaceousness, if desired. Enjoy it on sandwiches, in lettuce cups, with crackers, or as a side dish at your next barbecue!
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Notes

Proper storage is key to enjoying your delicious Honey Hot Chicken Salad for days to come. To store, transfer any leftovers into an airtight container. Refrigerate the salad promptly, where it will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
Chicken salad is best served chilled. Reheating is not recommended.
Freezing is not advised.
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