Chicken Casserole

How To Make Chicken Casserole

Look at how simple it is to get our simple chicken casserole ready for the oven in just 10-minutes. Follow the recipe for the complete directions:

Place Chicken in Casserole

Using either shredded or chopped cooked chicken, place it evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 3-quart casserole dish. The dish can be either rectangular shape or round—whatever you have in your kitchen that will hold 3 quarts.

Spoon Soup Over Chicken

Dollop it right from the can by spoonfuls over the chicken. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly.

Sprinkle with Cheese

Sprinkle it evenly over the soup.

Make the Panko Topping

Mix the crispy panko bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle it evenly over the cheese.

Bake

The casserole is baked until you see these doneness cues: the cheese is melted, the crumb topping is golden brown, and it is hot in the center of the casserole. Let it stand for 10 minutes so that the casserole has a chance to set up slightly, for nicer-looking servings.

Variations of Chicken Casserole

What’s the best chicken casserole you can make? One that’s made with what you already have on hand, so there’s no reason to make a trip to the store. Try any of these ideas to make it your own:

Swap the Soup: Try another flavor of condensed soup, such as cream of mushroom, reduced sodium cream of chicken soup, or cream of celery.

Let’s Talk Turkey: This recipe would be a fantastic one to use up those leftover holiday turkey leftovers! Swap in 3 cups chopped cooked turkey for the chicken.

Add Veggies: Leftover cooked veggies such as broccoli florets, green beans, or mixed veggies can be added to bulk up your veggie intake and add some color to a home-style casserole. Coated with all that cheesy, chicken goodness, even picky eaters will these veggies.

Swap the Cheese: Rather than use shredded cheddar cheese, try Mexican cheese blends, Colby-Jack, or Swiss cheese instead.

Change the Topping: Instead of using the buttery panko crumb topping, try crushed crackers, potato chips, croutons, or fried onions.

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers promptly after serving. They shouldn’t be out of the oven for any longer than 2 hours, to keep them food safe for eating. Use an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator no longer than 4 days. To reheat (for the best texture of the topping), place in an oven-safe dish and bake uncovered at 350°F about 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reaches 165°F. Or, for faster reheating (but the topping won’t be as crisp), place a serving on a microwavable plate. Cover loosely and microwave on medium-high (70%) for about 1 minute or until heated through.