If there’s one dish that takes me back to my childhood, it’s Chicken Casserole. This hearty, comforting dish was a staple at our family dinners, and for a good reason! It’s a one-pot wonder that’s packed with flavor and can feed a crowd. It’s made up of wholesome ingredients like chicken breasts, green peppers, and onions, and then baked to perfection. The origins of the casserole can be traced back to the French word ‘casse,’ meaning ‘a case.’ Essentially, a casserole is a large, deep dish used both in the oven and as a serving vessel. The term is also used for the food cooked and served in such a vessel. Over time, casseroles have become a beloved part of many cultures’ cuisines, and they’re known for their convenience, comfort, and deliciousness. In America, casseroles took on a life of their own in the 1950s, becoming a go-to dish for housewives across the country. The Chicken Casserole, in particular, is a timeless classic that brings together simple, accessible ingredients in a flavorful and satisfying way. The beauty of this dish is its versatility – you can add or remove ingredients based on your liking, making it a perfect dish to experiment with. I love this Chicken Casserole recipe because it’s a fail-safe option for any meal. It’s easy to prepare, and the result is always a hit, thanks to the creamy, cheesy goodness that comes from the Velveeta cheese and mushroom soup. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, you can whip up this Chicken Casserole with ease and impress your family and friends. So, get your aprons on, and let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
- 1 large pkg. spinach noodles, cooked in broth
- 1 c. chopped celery
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 6 chicken breasts, boiled (save 1 c. broth for mixture)
- 1/2 lb. Velveeta cheese
- mushrooms (optional)
- 1 can mushroom soup
Baking Instructions
- Cook chicken. Saute celery, pepper and onion. Add cheese and soup. Add 1 cup chicken broth. Mix spinach with chicken mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes at 350°.
Calorie: 500
Total cooking time: 1 hour
Difficulty level: Easy
Once Upon a Chicken Casserole
So, there I was, staring down a pile of ingredients that looked less like a meal and more like a culinary puzzle. I had my spinach noodles, celery, green pepper, onion, chicken breasts, Velveeta cheese, mushrooms (purely optional, of course), and a can of mushroom soup. The idea was to transform these disparate elements into a Chicken Casserole, but in that moment, it felt more like I was preparing for a magic trick than a cooking session.
The Chicken Conundrum
The first step was the chicken breasts. Oh, those chicken breasts! Boiling them was simple enough, but then I was supposed to save a cup of the broth for the mixture. This felt like one of those brain teasers where you’re trying to carry water in a sieve. I mean, how much broth can one chicken breast really produce? After careful (and somewhat dubious) measuring, I proudly saved my cup of broth for later.
The Vegetable Variety Show
Next up, the celery, green pepper, and onion. Now, I don’t know about you, but when I saute vegetables, I like to pretend I’m on a cooking show. I get all flamboyant with it, flipping the veggies in the air and catching them in the pan. This time, however, I managed to send a green pepper slice flying across the room. The dog was thrilled; I was less so.
The Cheese and Soup Situation
Then it was time for the Velveeta cheese and mushroom soup. Now, there’s something you should know about me: I’m a bit of a cheese snob. So, using Velveeta felt like a betrayal. But in the name of authenticity, I persevered, all while my inner gourmand was weeping. And let’s not even talk about the mushroom soup. It looked less like soup and more like a can of gray mystery goop. I bravely soldiered on.
The Broth Brouhaha
Next came the moment of truth: adding the chicken broth. This is where things got, well, soupy. I tipped my cup of broth into the pan and hoped for the best. Turns out, the best was a slightly less gray, slightly more liquid mystery goop. But hey, progress is progress!
The Spinach Noodle Spectacle
Finally, it was time for the spinach noodles. They had been quietly cooking in their own broth, oblivious to the chaos unfolding around them. I combined them with the chicken mixture, feeling a bit like a mad scientist as I stirred everything together.
The Baking Bonanza
Into the oven it went, uncovered, for 30 minutes at 350°. This was the easy part. The hard part was resisting the temptation to open the oven every two minutes to check on it. But I managed, and after what felt like an eternity (but was actually just about 28 minutes), it was done.
The Casserole Conclusion
And there you have it, my friends. The tale of how a collection of ingredients transformed into a Chicken Casserole. It was a journey of trial and error, a test of patience and culinary skill. But in the end, the reward was well worth it. The casserole was delicious, if I do say so myself. And the dog? Well, let’s just say he’s hoping for another airborne green pepper slice next time.
