Chicken casserole is the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, hearty, and full of flavor. But after one too many bland batches, even casserole lovers can get bored with the basic recipe. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to elevate your chicken casserole and take it to new heights of deliciousness. In this article, I’ll share 9 mouthwatering ingredients to mix up your usual chicken casserole routine. With just a few extra ingredients, you can transform a tired old staple into a dish that will have everyone begging for seconds.
1. Sautéed Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic form the flavor base for countless savory dishes, so they’re a perfect choice for giving a flavor boost to chicken casserole Sauté the onions and garlic before adding them to the casserole, and they’ll add a rich sweetness and depth that takes the overall flavor up a notch I like using a combination of yellow and red onions for a complex layered flavor. Fresh garlic is best, but granulated garlic works too if you’re in a pinch. Just a quarter cup of cooked onions and a teaspoon of garlic per casserole will do the trick.
2. Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs are an easy way to brighten up any dish. For chicken casserole, classic herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, and thyme all work wonderfully. Chop the herbs and stir them in at the end for a vibrant finish. Or sprinkle them on top of the casserole before baking for an extra punch of flavor and color. Herbs infuse the casserole with their fresh, aromatic essence and give it a more polished flavor profile. Start with 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs and adjust to taste.
3. Grated Cheese
What makes cheese so magical? The way it melts into creaminess and envelops all the other ingredients in luscious flavor. Cheddar parmesan and monterey jack are all excellent melty choices for chicken casserole. But for an extra decadent twist, try using a combination like grated gruyere and fontina. Grate about a cup of your chosen cheese(s) and sprinkle it over the casserole before baking until melted and bubbling. The cheese releases its oils and coats every morsel in gooey, indulgent richness.
4. Crushed Crackers or Croutons
Adding some crunch on top takes chicken casserole texture to the next level. Crushed crackers like Ritz or buttery round croutons make an easy crunchy topping. The crackers or croutons toast to golden brown and provide contrasting crunch against the soft noodles and chicken. Sprinkle them over top just before baking so they don’t get soggy. For extra flavor, toss the crackers or croutons with a teaspoon or two of dried herbs before topping the casserole.
5. Crisp Bacon Pieces
Bacon makes everything better, so why not add it to chicken casserole? Chopped cooked bacon adds little bursts of smoky, salty, porky goodness throughout the dish. Try using thicker cut bacon for heartier texture and flavor. Cook the bacon until nice and crisp, then drain on paper towels and chop into small pieces. Stir the bacon into the casserole along with any rendered bacon fat for extra richness. A quarter cup of chopped bacon per casserole does the trick.
6. Sautéed Mushrooms
Earthy, meaty mushrooms are a wonderful addition to chicken casserole. Sautéing concentrates their flavor for a more pronounced mushroom taste. Go for classics like white or brown mushrooms, or get fancy with wild varieties like shiitake, oyster, or cremini. Thickly slice the mushrooms, then sauté them in butter or olive oil until lightly browned. Stir the sautéed mushrooms into the casserole, and they’ll add fabulous texture and savory flavor to every bite.
7. Diced Roasted Red Peppers
The sweetness of roasted red peppers balances beautifully with the savoriness of chicken casserole. Dice up some roasted red peppers and stir them in for pops of bright flavor and color. You can roast your own peppers, or use jars of pre-roasted peppers for convenience. The tender pepper pieces heat through in the casserole and release their sweet juices, lending the dish a lovely Mediterranean flair.
8. Frozen Peas and Carrots
Quick-cooking frozen peas and carrots make an easy way to get some veggies into chicken casserole. The sweet peas and carrots thaw and heat through in the oven for an extra dose of color and nutrition. Buy bags of plain frozen peas and carrots without any sauce or seasonings. Measure out about a cup of the veggie mix and stir into the casserole before baking. The bright peas and carrots provide a wholesome counterbalance to the creamy, cheesy casserole.
9. Canned Diced Tomatoes
Tomatoes are an acidic ingredient that add bright flavor to creamy chicken casseroles. Go for a 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes and drain them before stirring into the casserole. The tomato pieces heat through and release their juicy goodness, lending pleasant tartness and garden-fresh tomato flavor. For extra zing, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the tomatoes.
With a little creativity, the possibilities for elevating chicken casserole are practically endless. Try out some of these add-ins to create your own signature version that will have family and friends begging for the recipe. Just a few extra ingredients can take chicken casserole from boring to beautiful!
How To Make Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you can use chicken thighs if you prefer. Chicken breasts are leaner than thighs, and tend to be thicker as well, which works very well in this recipe. Not feeling chicken? Try our Tuscan salmon or Tuscan shrimp instead.
- Oregano: Oregano has an aromatic, earthy flavor that helps to round out the flavor profile of a dish while also adding a slight hint of pleasant bitterness.
- Butter: There is a reason everyone loves butter. I am using it here to add an extra layer of creaminess to the sauce. It is also going to help deglaze the pan of some of those stuck-on brown bits from your chicken, which is great because they hold so much flavor.
- Garlic: Punchy, aromatic, and slightly spicy, garlic adds so much flavor to every dish, and is a classic Tuscan ingredient.
- Cherry Tomatoes & Baby Spinach: I added cherry tomatoes and spinach to my skillet (like I do in most of my Tuscan-inspired recipes), but you can add even more additions if you have them on hand, or swap out the cherry tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes. Either way, using bright, fresh veg is important to achieving a convincing Tuscan flavor.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream is really what carries this simple sauce, creating a rich, silky base for your chicken.
- Parmesan: Rich and nutty, Parmesan carries double weight in this recipe, lending flavor and texture to the sauce. Here it acts as a thickener that will help the sauce hold to the chicken.
- Lemon Wedges: This will add some acidity to the dish that really balances well, but feel free to leave it out if lemon isn’t your thing!
I start this recipe off by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, until the oil looks slick and begins to glide across the face of the pan. Once the oil is ready, I add my chicken breast, spacing properly to fit all four in the skillet at once, and season with salt, pepper, and oregano. We can season the chicken beforehand, but seasoning in the skillet allows for any extra seasoning that doesn’t immediately stick to be mixed back into the chicken and sauce. Cook the chicken for about 8 minutes on each side. A golden crust on both sides is a good indicator that your chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside, covered, until ready to reintroduce.
Next, I add my butter to the same skillet and stir it as it melts, making sure to scrape any stuck-on chicken and seasoning bits back into the mix. Then I stir in my garlic and cook it until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Then, I add in my cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook the tomatoes until the skin begins to burst, then add in the spinach and cook until it begins to wilt.
Once the spinach wilts, I add in the heavy cream and parmesan and stir the mixture to combine, until it reaches a simmer.
Then I reduce the heat to low and allow the sauce to continue to simmer until it is slightly reduced and thickened. This should take about 3 minutes.
When the sauce has reached our desired consistency, return the cooked chicken to the skillet and allow it to cook in the sauce until heated through completely, about another 5 to 7 minutes.
Plate, serve with lemon wedges, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.
What To Serve With Creamy Tuscan Chicken
I love this dish served with bread, but you can also serve it over rice or pasta, or with creamy mashed potatoes. Whatever you do, I highly recommend serving this alongside something to sop up all of that incredible Tuscan sauce—let’s be honest, it’s the real star of the show here.
Feel free to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The Tuscan sauce can also be batched ahead of time and frozen in the freezer for up to 3 months before use.Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
- 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. dried oregano
- 3 Tbsp. butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- Lemon wedges, for serving
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- Step 1 In a skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add chicken and season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Cook until browned on both sides and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165°, 8 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 2 In the same skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes are beginning to burst then add spinach and cook until spinach is beginning to wilt.
- Step 3 Stir in heavy cream and parmesan and bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Return chicken to skillet and cook until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Step 4 Serve with lemon wedges.
Easy Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Bake with Stove Top Stuffing (So Delicious!)
FAQ
What to add to a bland chicken casserole?
Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken.
How do I add more flavor to a casserole?
Casseroles can really shine when they achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. Sweet, salty, spicy, and acidic elements should blend well and complement each other. Add ingredients like caramelized onions, olives, or lemon zest to give your casserole a depth of flavor.
What to add to chicken casserole?
A basic chicken casserole typically includes cooked chicken, a creamy sauce (often cream of chicken soup), and a starch like noodles or rice. Other common ingredients include vegetables like celery, onions, and carrots, and a topping like breadcrumbs or crackers.
What can I add to chicken to make it more flavorful?
Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure. This Middle Eastern spice rub is delicious when charred on the grill.