Contest-Winning Broccoli Chicken Casserole
This delicious twist on chicken divan came from an old boss, who gave the recipe to me when I got married. It’s quick, satisfying comfort food.
This delicious twist on chicken divan came from an old boss, who gave the recipe to me when I got married. It’s quick, satisfying comfort food.
- Carbohydrate 0.620066666666667 g
- Cholesterol 43.4 mg
- Fat 4.58208333333333 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 13.1253 g
- Saturated Fat 1.24772333333333 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving (58g)
- Sodium 46.595 mg
- Sugar 0.620066666666667 g
- Trans Fat 0.595758333333333 g
- Calories 99 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350degrees. Prepare stuffing mix according to package directions, using 1-1/2 cups water.
- In large bowl, combine chicken, broccoli and soup; transfer to a greased 11x7-in. baking dish. Top with stuffing; sprinkle with cheese. Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Yield: 6 servings.
- Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350degrees. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165degrees.
Can this bake be safely halved for a smaller household without throwing off the ratios of condensed soup to dry stuffing mix? Adjusting quantities for baked dishes requires understanding how volume impacts thermal transfer through dense layers of poultry, cheese, and seasoned breadcrumbs. When modifying yields, maintain the ratio of one can of condensed soup per two cups of cubed poultry to prevent a dry final texture. Baking times will adjust downward when using a smaller 8x4-inch loaf pan instead of the standard 11x7-inch dish, requiring careful monitoring around the fifteen-minute mark to avoid scorching the cheese topping.
- Thaw frozen broccoli florets completely and press them firmly between paper towels to remove excess moisture before mixing, preventing excess water from diluting the broccoli cheese soup and making the casserole watery.
- Substitute gluten-free bread stuffing or seasoned rice flakes for the standard wheat-based stuffing mix if managing dietary restrictions, ensuring the substitute absorbs moisture similarly during the initial twenty-minute covered bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Verify that the center reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit using an instant-read thermometer before removing the foil cover for the final ten to fifteen minutes of browning.
- Assemble the dish up to twenty-four hours in advance and store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, adding ten minutes to the total baking time to compensate for the initial chill.
Freezing an unbaked casserole provides a practical meal-prep option when wrapped securely in heavy-duty aluminum foil. Always transfer a frozen dish to the refrigerator for an overnight thaw before placing it into a preheated 350-degree oven.
