Chicken casserole with stuffing is the ultimate comfort food. With tender chicken savory stuffing and creamy soup, this dish is sure to satisfy. Making chicken casserole with stuffing at home is easy and customizable. Follow these simple steps for a mouthwatering meal the whole family will love.
Benefits of Chicken Casserole with Stuffing
Chicken casserole with stuffing is a hearty and wholesome dish. Here are a few of the best things about this traditional meal:
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Provides lean protein from the chicken to support muscle growth and repair
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Stuffing adds complex carbs to fuel the body. Look for whole grain breads for extra fiber.
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Includes veggies like celery, onions, and carrots for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
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Comforting homestyle dish that brings back fond memories for many people.
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Kid-friendly recipe that picky eaters will happily devour.
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Versatile ingredients that are easy to find and budget-friendly.
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Makes great leftovers so you can enjoy it for lunch or dinner later in the week.
Choosing the Chicken
The star of chicken casserole is, of course, the chicken. You want juicy, tender pieces of chicken that will soak up the flavors of the stuffing and soup. Here are some chicken options to consider:
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Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are easy to find and cook up juicy and tender. Cut into chunks or strips before adding to the casserole.
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Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – More fat than breasts for added moisture and flavor. Take off skin then cut or shred thighs.
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Rotisserie chicken – Skip raw chicken prep by using already cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. Shred or chop it up.
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Canned chicken – Canned chicken is precooked and ready to mix in. It lacks the texture of fresh chicken but works in a pinch.
Crafting Flavorful Stuffing
The stuffing is key for soaking up the delicious flavors. You can use a store-bought bag or make it yourself. Homemade is tastier but use packaged stuffing to simplify prep. Consider these stuffing tips:
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Base – Bread cubes, cornbread, croutons, or rice. Choose whole grains when possible.
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Aromatics – Onion, celery, garlic, and herbs like sage bring tons of flavor.
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Broth – Chicken or vegetable broth moistens the stuffing. Use it to soak the bread.
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Mix-ins – Nuts, cranberries, sausage, mushrooms, and more to customize.
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Seasoning – Salt, pepper, poultry seasoning amp up the stuffing taste.
Picking Creamy Soup
Cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, or cream of celery soup adds delicious creamy flavor. You can use canned condensed soup for convenience or make homemade. Here are some tips for the soup component:
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Fat content – Creamy soups have more fat and calories than broths. Opt for reduced-fat if watching calories.
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Sodium content – Canned soups tend to be high in sodium. Look for low-sodium options or make homemade.
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Texture – Thick soup helps bind the casserole ingredients. Thin soup may yield a drier casserole.
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Flavor – For extra richness, use cream of mushroom. Cream of celery brightens up the taste.
Casserole Bake Time and Temperature
Baking transforms the casserole ingredients into a hot, bubbly, melted dish. Follow these guidelines for casserole bake time and temp:
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Oven temperature – Bake at 350°F to thoroughly heat and lightly brown.
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Pan size – Use a 9×13 inch casserole dish so ingredients fit nicely.
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Bake time – Bake 35-45 minutes until hot, browned, and bubbly. Chicken should be 165°F.
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Tent foil – Tenting foil over casserole prevents over-browning on top.
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Rest time – Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes before serving so flavors meld.
Putting It All Together
Now let’s walk through the entire simple process of assembling this yummy chicken casserole with stuffing:
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 4 cups stuffing mix (prepared according to package)
- 1 can (10 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup frozen veggies (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Steps:
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Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set aside.
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Mix stuffing. Cook stuffing mix according to package directions. Let cool slightly.
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Combine soup and milk. In a medium bowl, stir together condensed soup and milk.
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Layer casserole. Spread 1/3 of the stuffing in prepared casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the chicken, 1/2 of the veggies, and 1/3 of the soup mixture. Repeat layers ending with final 1/3 of the stuffing.
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Bake 35-45 minutes. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 more minutes until hot and bubbly.
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Sprinkle cheese. Remove from oven, top with shredded cheese, and let sit 5 minutes before serving.
And that’s it! In less than an hour, you can make this hearty chicken casserole with stuffing that tastes like it took all day. Play around with ingredients to customize it just the way your family likes it. Enjoy the compliments on this delicious homestyle meal.
Can you Freeze chicken and stuffing bake?
Yes, this casserole is a wonderful meal to freeze. Actually, I usually divide into 2 smaller casserole dishes and freeze one for later.
It’s always nice to have a quick meal ready to pop in the oven, especially on a busy day.
To freeze, make the casserole yet do not bake. Cover well with foil and freeze for up to 2 months. When you want to enjoy it, thaw in the fridge overnight and then bake as usual.
How to make Chicken Casserole with Stuffing
When I say this recipe is easy to make – I mean 4 simple steps!
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Diced onion, shredded carrot, steamed broccoli, and shredded cooked chicken should all be mixed together in a bowl. Place combined into a greased baking dish.
- On top of the things in the baking dish, mix the chicken broth and soup together in a different bowl.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. After cooking, gently mix contents and top with grated cheese. Bake another 15 minutes, uncovered this time. Broil for two minutes more if you want the cheese to get crispy.
- Enjoy!
Easy Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Bake with Stove Top Stuffing (So Delicious!)
FAQ
What ingredients go in chicken casserole?
Ingredients8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (around 850g/1lb 14oz)1 tbsp olive or sunflower oil. 1 onion, thinly sliced. 4 rashers smoked back bacon, cut into roughly 2cm/¾in slices. 150g/5½oz small mushrooms, halved or quartered if larger. 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into roughly 1. 5cm/⅝in slices.
What are the 4 ingredients in chicken casserole?
Ingredients4 boneless skinless chicken breasts. 1 cup long grain rice , uncooked. 2 Tablespoons Ranch seasoning , can also use Italian seasoning or onion soup mix. 1 ½ cups water. 10 ounces cream of chicken soup , can sub for cream of mushroom or celery.
Do you cook chicken before putting it in a casserole?
Yes, it’s generally recommended to cook chicken before adding it to a casserole, although some recipes may call for raw chicken. Pre-cooking the chicken helps ensure it’s fully cooked through and prevents a watery casserole.
Do you have to cook stuffing before putting in chicken?
Do you cook the stuffing before adding it to the casserole? Nope, but you do hydrate it with some chicken broth before adding on top of the chicken mixture. When baked, it becomes a golden and crunchy topping.