Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 65 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Bacon gives this chicken casserole nice smoky flavor, and the combination of American and cheddar cheeses makes it extra creamy.
We used mini penne in this casserole (pictured); elbows or shells can be used as well. And feel free to omit the bacon or replace it with about 1 cup of diced ham.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces mini penne pasta or elbow macaroni
- 6 to 8 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound chicken breasts or chicken tenders (cut in 1-inch pieces)
- 4 green onions (sliced)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or more milk
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 4 ounces American cheese (shreds or chopped)
- 1 cup frozen peas (thawed)
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Cook the pasta in boiling salted water following package directions.
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Grease a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish. Heat oven to 350 F.
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In a large skillet or saucepan, cook bacon until crispy. Remove bacon to paper towels; crumble.
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Pour off the grease in the skillet, leaving about 1 or 2 teaspoons. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet and cook the chicken over medium-low heat until cooked through.
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Add green onions and cook for 1 minute longer.
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Add flour and stir until blended into the fat. Gradually stir in the milk, cooking and stirring until slightly thickened.
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Stir in salt, pepper, and thyme. Add the cheeses and thawed peas, along with crumbled bacon.
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Spoon into the prepared baking dish along with the cooked pasta.
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Combine bread crumbs with 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle over the casserole.
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Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is browned and casserole is bubbly.
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 747 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 35g | 45% |
Saturated Fat 16g | 80% |
Cholesterol 127mg | 42% |
Sodium 1338mg | 58% |
Total Carbohydrate 61g | 22% |
Dietary Fiber 5g | 17% |
Protein 44g | |
Calcium 516mg | 40% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |