Herbed Chicken En Casserole
A flavorful herbed chicken casserole featuring tender chicken breasts, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and a savory wine-based sauce, perfect for comforting family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Lightly season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Brown chicken slowly in margarine or butter in a skillet.
- Arrange browned chicken, skin side up, in a baking dish.
- Add cream of chicken soup to the drippings in the skillet to make the sauce.
- Slowly add sauterne wine, stirring until smooth.
- Add sliced water chestnuts, sliced mushrooms, chopped green pepper, and thyme to the sauce. Heat to boiling.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken in the baking dish.
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking for 25 to 35 minutes or until chicken is tender.
- Serve hot, optionally with fluffy rice.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider marinating the chicken in a mix of sauterne wine and thyme for a couple of hours before cooking. If you don't have sauterne wine, you can substitute it with white wine or chicken broth. For a healthier option, you can use olive oil instead of margarine or butter. Also, feel free to add other vegetables like broccoli or carrots for extra nutrition.
Serving Suggestions
This Herbed Chicken En Casserole pairs beautifully with fluffy rice or a fresh garden salad for a complete meal. You can serve it with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes for a comforting dinner. Consider complementing it with sides like roasted vegetables or steamed green beans to enhance the dish's flavors and textures.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the dish with foil and warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions for a quick meal, but be sure to cover the dish to prevent drying out.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Herbed Chicken En Casserole contains roughly 199 calories, with 6g protein, 11g carbohydrates, and 16g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (43% of the Daily Value), vitamin D (40% of the Daily Value), and iron (27% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber and protein. It also contributes 4g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts. However, it's best to thaw them completely before cooking to ensure even browning and cooking. If you need to cook them from frozen, increase the baking time accordingly and ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
What if I don't have condensed cream of chicken soup?
If you don't have condensed cream of chicken soup, you can make a simple homemade substitute by mixing equal parts of cream and chicken broth with a bit of flour to thicken. Alternatively, you can use cream of mushroom soup or even a homemade white sauce for a different flavor while still keeping the dish creamy.
Can I prepare this casserole in advance?
Absolutely! You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance. Just cover it tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate. When you're ready to bake, remove it from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before placing it in the oven to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).