Delectable and Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes

Easy chicken casserole recipes that are delectable and will have everyone rushing to the table.  These one-dish meals are easy and hearty for satisfying and quick dinner fare for family or guests.

Casseroles, from the French word for "saucepan", have been around since about the mid-1800s.  They are classified as any deep dish with meat, vegetables, and some sort of starchy binder as pasta, potatoes, cheese, or flour.  Of course, they have evolved over the years and are pretty much constructed with anything that suits one's fancy.

When I was younger my Mom always made a chicken and broccoli casserole that was my favorite.  Although I didn't like broccoli all that much at the time, I loved the casserole. So, I'm guessing, that it was my Mom's way of camouflaging vegetables with other more tasty ingredients so that we would eat them.  I was a very picky eater when I was young.  Now, I love broccoli.  Go figure

Casseroles are great for last-minute dinners.  Everything is combined in one dish and the leftovers are easy to store right in the cooking dish and reheat.

EASY CHICKEN CASSEROLE RECIPES
prep time: 15 minutes
cook time 30 minutes
oven 350°
serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 2lbs chicken parts
• 3 tbs olive oil
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup diced red pepper
• 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, rinsed well, dried, and sliced
• 1 14 oz can stewed Italian style tomatoes with juice, broken up
• 3/4 cup water
• 5 tsp Italian herb seasoning
• dash of crushed red pepper
• 3/4 uncooked rice

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a large cast-iron skillet.  Dredge chicken in flour.  Add chicken to hot oil and brown.  Remove the browned chicken to a plate lined with a paper towel. 
2. Add onion and peppers to the pan and saute for about 4 minutes.  Add garlic and saute for an additional minute.  Add mushrooms and saute another 3 minutes.  Stir in tomatoes, water, Italian seasoning, and red pepper.  Bring to a boil and stir in the rice.  Return chicken to skillet.  Cover and cook in 350° oven for 30 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed by the rice.

BROCCOLI CHEESE CASSEROLE
prep time: 
cook time:
serves:
oven:  350°

Ingredients:

• 1 store-bought roasted chicken, deboned
• 1 tbs butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp bottle browning sauce such as Kitchen Bouquet
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 10 oz fresh broccoli, steamed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• or 10 ounces frozen broccoli defrosted
• 1  cup shredded cheddar cheese or Swiss and cheddar mix
• 1 cup quick-cooking rice (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions (only the white part)

Preparation:

1. debone the chicken and cut it into bite-size pieces and set it aside.  Stir together over low heat the butter, wine, chicken broth, browning sauce, and paprika for about 4 or 5 minutes.
2. Steam broccoli in a small amount of water covered in microwave for about 3 minutes on medium-high.  Let stand for 1 minute.
3. In a medium-size casserole dish sprayed with nonstick spray, combine chicken, broccoli, rice, cheese, green onions, and sauce.  Mix well.  Bake in 325° oven for 1 hour.