Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are an easy and affordable choice at the grocery store. Combining chicken breasts with starch and vegetables in a casserole creates an easy one-dish meal. Opt for familiar favorite flavors for classic comfort food or lighten up your casserole for a healthy and convenient meal for your family.
Cooking Chicken Breasts
Most chicken casseroles require that you start with chopped, cooked chicken. You can use poached, baked, or broiled chicken breasts for casseroles. Marinate the chicken in an acid-based marinade -- using lemon juice, lime juice, salad dressing or vinegar, and spices -- for four to eight hours for additional flavor if desired.
To bake boneless chicken breasts, rub the chicken with olive oil and generously salt and pepper, then place in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Check that the juices run clear and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Prepping and Storing Chicken for Casseroles
Shred or chop the chicken breasts as desired. You can store the cooked chicken in the refrigerator for three to four days, or freeze prepared portions for use in future casseroles; they'll keep four to six months. Allow approximately 1 lb. of chicken for a casserole that serves six, but you can use less if you'd like.
Comfort Food Classics
Comfort food is typically rich and creamy; casserole of chicken with noodles or rice is the classic example. These casserole recipes often rely upon canned cream soups and cheese to add flavor. Combine chicken, broccoli, cheddar cheese and cream of broccoli soup to make an easy chicken divan; or cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, sour cream and egg noodles to make a rich chicken noodle casserole.
Lighten Up
For healthier choices, you can lighten classic comfort food by opting for reduced-fat and -sodium soups, lower-fat cheese and extra vegetables. Try pairing chicken, corn, black beans and salsa, then top the mixture with crumbled baked tortilla chips and a small amount of cheese for a kid-pleasing casserole. Toss cooked chicken breasts with pasta, jarred sauce, and some low-fat or fat-free ricotta cheese for a tasty and easy pasta bake. When using lower-fat ingredients in your casserole, you may want to cover it with foil as it bakes to keep it moist. Bake your casserole in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the ingredients are bubbling.
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