Description
A comforting casserole featuring tender shredded chicken, creamy sauce, and a crunchy topping that brings smiles to the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups shredded chicken
- 9 ounces deli-style beef bacon or turkey strips
- 8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer 5 cups of shredded chicken in the prepared dish, followed by 9 ounces of beef bacon or turkey strips, and then 8 ounces of Swiss cheese.
- In a saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter over medium heat, then whisk in the Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.
- Sprinkle in 6 tablespoons of flour and stir continuously until a roux forms, then gradually whisk in 3 cups of whole milk and bring to a gentle simmer for about 4 minutes until thickened.
- Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the cheese layer in the casserole dish.
- Combine 1 ½ cups of Panko breadcrumbs with 4 tablespoons of softened butter and sprinkle over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown, then let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
Notes
Allow to sit after baking for easier serving. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: casserole, chicken, comfort food, family meal, easy recipe