Creamy Chicken Casserole

Table of Contents

Intro

This Creamy Chicken Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—rich, hearty, and full of flavor. With tender chunks of chicken, a velvety cream sauce, vegetables, and a cheesy golden topping, it’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out.It’s also a versatile recipe—perfect for using up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, and easy to customize with your favorite vegetables or pasta. Whether you serve it as a weeknight dinner or bring it to a potluck, this casserole is guaranteed to be a hit at the table.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35–40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed (rotisserie chicken works great)

2 tbsp butter

1 medium onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced (optional)

1 cup frozen peas & carrots (or mixed vegetables)

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

1 ½ cups chicken broth

1 cup milk (whole or 2%)

½ cup sour cream (or cream cheese for extra richness)

1 tsp dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)

½ tsp paprika

Salt & pepper, to taste

2 cups cooked pasta (penne, rotini, or egg noodles) OR 2 cups diced cooked potatoes

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella, or a mix)

½ cup breadcrumbs (optional, for topping)

2 tbsp Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Instructions

Preheat oven

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Make the creamy filling (10 minutes)

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

Add diced onion and mushrooms, sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.

Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Sprinkle in flour, stirring to coat vegetables (1 minute).

Slowly whisk in chicken broth and milk, stirring until smooth and thickened (3–4 minutes).

Stir in sour cream, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Assemble casserole (5 minutes)

In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, vegetables, cooked pasta (or potatoes), and creamy sauce.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.

Top with shredded cheddar cheese.

(Optional) Mix breadcrumbs with Parmesan and sprinkle over top for a crunchy crust.

Bake (30–35 minutes)

Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.

If topping browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil during baking.

Serve

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Garnish with fresh parsley.

Serving Suggestions

With a side of garlic bread or dinner rolls to soak up the creamy sauce.

A crisp green salad for freshness.

Leftovers reheat well—perfect for meal prep.