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A casserole is just the thing for a cold winter's night, or anytime you feel like you want to be in comfort mode. Craving some substance, too? These chicken casseroles will do the trick, as they're filled with protein.
The dishes in this gallery are soothing and filling; many are old-school classics, while others offer new and creative takes on the time-tested genre. They're not terribly complicated to prepare, with many of the recipes calling for using store-bought rotisserie chicken and other smart shortcuts. Even better, they freeze beautifully, so you can make one to eat now and another to freeze and eat later. Your future self will thank you. And your present self will be pretty pleased, too.
Chicken Divan
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This tasty casserole features chicken in a creamy, mustardy sauce. It's wonderful served over egg noodles or rice.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
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This fresh-tasting casserole relies on a quick homemade tomatillo sauce to hold the enchiladas together, so it's not dripping with cheese. That said, crumbled cotija and a sour cream drizzle are welcome additions just before serving.
Chicken-and-Gnocchi Bake With Broccolini
Gnocchi always tastes like comfort food, but baking it with chicken, cheese, and broth makes it even more so. Broccolini (or broccoli) is a great addition that cuts through all the richness.
Chicken and Spinach Casserole
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This delicious recipe had us at torn bread—although chopped spinach, sauteed onion and garlic, white wine, cream, and lemon juice aren't exactly tough pills to swallow! Mix them together with some shredded rotisserie chicken and bake, and you're in for a treat.
Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
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Here's another throwback you may have eaten growing up. It includes a winning mixture of chicken, rice, mushrooms and peas, along with some fresh breadcrumbs, which form a nice and crunchy topping.
Chicken and Kale Casserole
Pasta and greens are a great combination, but when you add chicken, ricotta and parmesan, you take the pairing to a new level. Onion, garlic, and loads of lemon zest give it a nice flavor boost.
Chicken Tetrazzini
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This old-school casserole stars humble ingredients (white button mushrooms, broken linguine, frozen peas), all baked together with shredded rotisserie chicken and a béchamel sauce. Recipe makes an extra pan to go in the freezer.
Enchiladas Suizas
A rich, creamy sauce sets these enchiladas apart from other styles, and using chicken thighs (instead of breast meat) gives this casserole great substance.
Baked Penne With Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
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Follow this recipe, and you'll have one delicious dinner to serve tonight and another to stash in the freezer for the future. It's packed with provolone, Parmesan, and sun-dried tomatoes for intense flavor that won't fade in the deep freeze.
Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts
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Pre-cooked polenta slices, chicken cutlets, olives, capers, marinara sauce and plenty of bubbly mozzarella come together in this Italian-inspired casserole that's sure to please.
Easy Chicken Parmesan
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Bread chicken cutlets, give them a quick fry, then slide them into a baking dish. Top with sauce and cheese, bake, and you've got a delicious, easy, and crowd-pleasing supper that's great with pasta or crusty bread.
Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Casserole
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Almost like a strata, this satisfying casserole features dense multigrain bread on the bottom, overlaid with chicken, aromatic vegetables, Parmesan cheese, and cream sauce.