Unforgettable Chicken Casserole
3 cups chopped deli-roasted chicken (or other cooked, diced chicken meat)
2 cups finely chopped celery
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup light mayonaisse
1 can reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup
1 (4-ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
1½ cups French fried onion rings
Stir together first 8 ingredients in a large bowl. Spoon into a lightly greased 11x7” baking dish.
Bake at 350ºF for 40 minutes; sprinkle onion rings evenly over top. Bake 5 more minutes or until bubbly around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
--Southern Living, Dec. 2004
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Creamy Chicken & Rice Casserole
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup frozen peas
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups cubed cooked chicken
2 cups cooked rice
1 cup crushed potato chips or crushed Ritz crackers
In a small skillet, saute celery and onion in butter until crisp-tender. Place in a bowl; add the mayonnaise, soup, peas, lemon juice and salt. Stir in chicken and rice. Transfer to a greased 11-in. x 7-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with potato chips. Bake, uncovered, at 350ºF for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
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Favorite Chicken Casserole
4 bone-in chicken breasts (boil, de-bone, then tear into small pieces)
3 stacks Townhouse or Ritz Crackers
1 stick butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth-saved from boiling the chicken
1 8-oz. sour cream
Crumble 1 1/2 stacks of the crackers into a 13x9 glass baking dish. Place chicken on crackers. Chip 1/2 of the butter on the chicken. Mix sour cream, broth and soups together. Pour over the layers. Crumble remaining crackers over the top and chip remaining 1/2 stick of butter over all. Cover with foil, and bake @ 350 degrees for 30 min.; uncover and bake for 20-25 minutes more, or until crackers are golden brown on top.
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Invent Your Own Casserole
1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
CHOOSE ONE FROM EACH CATEGORY:
SAUCE MAKERS:
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of celery soup, undiluted
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can Cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
CHOOSE ONE FISH/MEAT/POULTRY:
2 (6-ounce) cans solid white tuna, drained and flaked
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups chopped cooked ham
2 cups chopped cooked turkey
1 pound ground beef, browned and drained
CHOOSE ONE PASTA/RICE:
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup uncooked rice
4 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
3 cups uncooked medium shells
CHOOSE ONE FROZEN VEGETABLE:
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (10-ounce) package frozen cut broccoli
1 (10-ounce) package frozen Italian green beans
1 (10-ounce) package frozen English peas
1 (16-ounce) package frozen sliced yellow squash
1 (10-ounce) package frozen whole kernel corn
CHOOSE ONE OR MORE EXTRAS (OPTIONAL):
1 (3-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
1/4 cup sliced ripe olives
1/4 cup chopped bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles
1 (1 1/4-ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix
TOPPINGS:
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
Combine 1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream, 1 cup milk, 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper with Sauce Maker (omit sour cream and milk when using tomatoes). Stir in Pasta/Rice, Frozen Vegetable, Fish/Meat/Poultry, and if desired, Extras.
Spoon casserole mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9- x 2-inch baking dish; sprinkle with your choice of toppings.
Cover and bake casserole at 350º for 1 hour and 10 minutes; uncover and bake 10 additional minutes.
Yield: 6 servings
--Southern Living, NOVEMBER 1996