There's nothing quite as comforting and satisfying as a simple casserole — and this easy chicken casserole recipe delivers on all fronts. It requires only 20 minutes of hands-on prep time, can be assembled in advance and is super-portable, making it perfect to drop off to loved ones or anyone who needs a little extra support.
Plus, it's straight-up delicious. We skipped the canned condensed soups, and made our own creamy sauce with olive oil, flour and water. Then, we grated in some Parmesan to give each bite a boost of cheesy flavor. And with broccoli in the mix, you can feel good about everyone getting their vegetables.
The best part? The crunchy topping. We made our own crispy breadcrumb topping by pulsing torn baguette and a splash of olive oil in a food processor — perfect if you have extra bread on hand. That said, feel free to get creative! Crushed Ritz crackers, potato chip crumbs or crushed cheese crackers could also work (and taste great).
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Ingredients
1lb.
boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and pepper
1Tbsp.
plus 1 tsp olive oil
1
yellow onion, finely chopped
1
clove garlic, pressed
3Tbsp.
all-purpose flour
3oz.
Parmesan, finely grated
12oz.
broccoli florets
3oz.
roughly torn baguette (about 2 cups)
Directions
Step 1Heat oven to 425°F. Cut chicken into 1 1/2-inch pieces; season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet on medium-high and cook chicken until browned on 1 side, about 2 minutes; transfer to a plate. Reduce heat to medium-low, then add onion; sauté until tender, 5 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook 1 minute.
Step 2Sprinkle flour over onion and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Slowly stir in 1 1/2 cups water, scraping up any browned bits, then Parmesan. In a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish, toss together chicken and broccoli. Spoon onion mixture over top and bake 10 minutes.
Step 3Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse baguette with remaining teaspoon oil to form coarse crumbs; sprinkle over casserole and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION (per serving): About 375 calories, 14 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 37 g protein, 800 mg sodium, 25 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber
Kate Merker (she/her) is the Chief Food Director of the Hearst Lifestyle Group, overseeing the team that produces food content for several Hearst titles, including Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Prevention, Woman’s Day and Country Living. She has clocked nearly 20 years of experience in food media and before that, worked at some of New York City’s finest restaurants.