Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe for a Delectable Dinner
Are you looking for a meal that will bring back memories of home-cooked comfort and joy? Look no further than Joy’s Chicken Casserole! This dish is more than just a simple recipe. It’s a chance to relive memories of family dinners and savor the taste of holiday meals.
Joy’s Chicken Casserole is a classic dish with a twist: it has been passed down through generations, with each cook adding their own special touch. This recipe has been making its way through kitchens for years, and for good reason. It’s easy to make, filling, and loaded with delicious flavors.
But what makes this chicken casserole truly special is the memories that come with it. Whether it was your Mom or Grandma cooking it, or just a tradition you started yourself, Joy’s Chicken Casserole always brings back warm feelings of joy.
So join me in making new memories by breaking out those favorite kitchen appliances and mixing up some magic with Joy’s Chicken Casserole. Your taste buds – and your heart – will thank you.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Picture this: it’s a cozy afternoon and the autumn breeze is blowing through your window. You’re huddled up in your blanket with a good book in hand, enjoying the warmth of your home. What better way to add to this delightful ambiance than to indulge in a deliciously comforting meal? That’s where Joy’s Chicken Casserole comes in.
This chicken casserole isn’t just any ordinary dish. It’s one that evokes cherished memories – memories of laughter-filled family gatherings, warm hugs from loved ones, and the unmistakable aroma wafting from grandmother’s kitchen. With every bite of this casserole, you’ll be transported back to days when life was simpler but more meaningful.
So why will you love this recipe? For one thing, it’s incredibly easy and hassle-free to make – simply boil tender chopped chicken breasts and add cream of celery soup undiluted, ReaLemon juice, mayonnaise, water chestnuts, onions, and cheddar cheese. Top it off with puffy muffin mix and bake it in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In no time at all, you’ll have yourself a mouthwatering dish that smells and tastes like heaven.
But it’s not just the ease of preparation that makes Joy’s Chicken Casserole stand out – it’s the taste. The creamy texture of the celery soup complements the crunchiness of the water chestnuts and onions perfectly. The cheddar cheese adds richness and depth of flavor that is hard to resist. And let’s not forget about the puffy muffin mix – it brings an element of surprise and excitement to each bite you take.
Whether you’re cooking for a big holiday gathering or just looking for something comforting to eat on a lazy day at home, Joy’s Chicken Casserole is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings. So go ahead and give this recipe a try – you won’t regret making such a delectable dish that reminds you of cherished memories while creating new ones all at once.
Ingredient List
Gather up, folks! Here are the ingredients you’ll need to get started on making Joy’s Chicken Casserole, a recipe that will fill your kitchen with warmth and good memories.
- 4 cups of chicken breasts, boiled until tender and chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 can (8 oz) of water chestnuts, drained and chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of ReaLemon juice
- 1 cup of mayonnaise
- 1 can (10.5 oz) of cream of celery soup, undiluted
- 2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Joy’s Chicken Casserole also needs one significant ingredient – the love for making precious memories in your kitchen through your culinary creations. So, make sure to have that one in abundance! With these ingredients at hand, let’s move on to the recipe how-to section.
The Recipe How-To
Let me take you through the step-by-step process of creating “Joy’s Chicken Casserole,” a delightful dish that will have your taste buds dancing with joy!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups cooked chicken breasts, diced
- 1 can (8 oz) sliced water chestnuts, drained
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons ReaLemon juice
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 can (10.75 oz) cream of celery soup, undiluted
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Puffy muffin mix (I use my bakery’s own recipe for puffy muffin mix)
- Sour cream
Step 1: Boil and chop the chicken breasts
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Start by boiling chicken breasts until they are tender. Once boiled, chop the chicken into bite-size pieces.
Step 2: Mix the ingredients
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked and diced chicken, sliced water chestnuts, chopped onion, ReaLemon juice, mayonnaise and cream of celery soup until well mixed.
Step 3: Add the cheese
Next add in the shredded cheddar cheese and continue stirring until everything is incorporated.
Step 4: Pour mixture into a baking dish
Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter and pour the mixture into it, smoothing it down so it spreads evenly.
Step 5: Prepare the muffin topping
While you are waiting for the oven to finish preheating, follow the direction on your favorite store-bought or homemade puffy muffin mix. [If you want to use my bakery’s recipe for puffy muffin mix, feel free to substitute any other mix accordingly]. Scoop out spoonfuls of muffin mix on top of the chicken mixture until it is fully covered.
Step 6: Bake it!
For 20 minutes, place casserole in the middle rack of your preheated oven or until golden-brown muffins bake beautifully overhead.
Serve with dollops of sour cream for an especially deliciously creamy finish!.
Substitutions and Variations
Want to switch things up a bit? Don’t let the ingredients list hold you back from making Joy’s Chicken Casserole your own. Here are a few substitutions and variations that will have you feeling like a culinary mastermind:
– Swap out the chicken breasts for shredded rotisserie chicken or even leftover turkey.
– Add some texture by tossing in sliced almonds or chopped pecans.
– Looking to add some heat? Mix in some diced jalapeño peppers or sprinkle a dash of cayenne pepper to the mayonnaise mixture.
– For a vegetarian take, swap out the chicken for canned chickpeas or incorporate your favorite vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms.
– Love the taste of soy sauce and sesame oil? Try replacing the ReaLemon juice with soy sauce and add some sesame oil to the mayonnaise mixture for a delicious Asian-inspired twist.
Whatever variation you choose, don’t be afraid to put your own spin on it. Memories in the making aren’t limited to one recipe!
Serving and Pairing
Ah, at last, the moment you’ve been waiting for – serving and pairing. You sit in front of your warm chicken casserole ready to indulge in all its comforts, my friend. Now comes the toughest part, what to eat with it? A simple side salad? Biscuits? Or maybe some blueberry muffins fresh-out-of-the-oven a la puffy muffin recipe?
Picture this – a mélange of flavors and textures complementing each other perfectly, like candy apples nestled alongside your holiday decorations – a memory in the making. The richness of the chicken salad, finely boiled and chopped to perfection, coated in creamy sauces of celery soup undiluted and mayonnaise makes for an irresistible combination. Topped with water chestnuts and cheddar cheese and baked in a 9 x13 inch oven for just 20 minutes until it’s golden perfection.
Why not whip up some sour cream biscuits to add some fluffiness? Why not some herb roasted veggies on the side or just a crisp simple green lettuce salad with red onions?
This dish pairs deliciously with white wines like chardonnay or burgundy if you’re feeling fancy. But if you’re looking forward to indulging in something refreshing instead, then why not open up a bottle of pale ale beer?
Whatever it is that your heart desires, dear friend, remember that joys chicken casserole isn’t just a meal but a work of art. It’s not only about making great food but also making memories in the making – puffy muffin recipe style!
Make-Ahead, Storing and Reheating
As someone who has made this Joy’s Chicken Casserole recipe more than a few times, I can tell you with certainty that it’s possible to make it ahead of time and store it for later. This is great news for anyone who wants to save time on cooking during a busy week or simply wants to enjoy their casserole over multiple days.
To make ahead, prepare the casserole just as you would if you were serving it immediately but don’t bake it yet. Instead, wrap the dish tightly with aluminum foil and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking.
When it comes time to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. Alternatively, if you want to reheat individual portions later, heat them in a microwave-safe dish for about a minute or until heated through.
If you have leftovers after serving, let them cool down completely before covering them with foil and storing them in the fridge for up to four days. As an added tip, I recommend transferring the casserole into smaller airtight containers instead of keeping leftovers in the original large baking dish since it will take up less space in your fridge.
When reheating leftovers, be sure to cover them with foil and bake them in the oven at 350°F for about 20 minutes or until heated through. You could also use a microwave-safe dish to heat individual portions for about a minute, just like when preparing ahead of time.
By following these storing and reheating tips, you’ll ensure that each subsequent bite of Joy’s Chicken Casserole remains as delicious as the first.
Tips for Perfect Results
Baking, just like life, can be unpredictable. However, with these tips, you will have a better chance of making Joy’s Chicken Casserole a success. Let’s get started and achieve the best results for this mouth-watering dish.
1. Don’t Overcook the Chicken
A common mistake when preparing chicken casserole is overcooking the chicken breasts. To avoid this, boil the chicken breasts until tender and then chop them into bite-size pieces. The boiled and tender chopped chicken will cook to perfection in the oven without drying out.
2. Add Crunchy Vegetables
The recipe calls for water chestnuts and onions, which add a lovely crunchy texture to the dish. Be sure not to leave them out as they are essential to give the casserole an overall pleasing feel.
3. Freshness Really Counts
Mayonnaise and sour cream tend to get overlooked but are crucial in keeping the casserole moist and creamy. Make sure they are within expiration dates as freshness really counts in achieving perfect results.
4. Cheese Makes Everything Better
Cheddar cheese is a star ingredient that enhances taste, aroma, and looks impressive when cooked perfectly golden-brown. Before baking, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole to achieve cheesy perfection.
5. Stick With Recommended Dish Size
Use a 9 x 13 inch dish as suggested in this recipe to keep all ingredients adequately distributed for optimal flavor delivery. Followed by baking for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until bubbly brown.
6. Bake Your Muffins Simultaneously
If you also make Puffy Muffin’s Blueberry Muffins , serve them hot out of the oven together with Joys Chicken Casserole . Nothing beats a warm muffin fresh from the oven when taking a break from enjoying homemade comfort food.
With these tips, you can perfect Joy’s Chicken Casserole recipe and make it deliciously memorable for yourself and others –whatever memories you’d like to carve into your mind (or your dinner) stick easier when you apply just a few tips from this item; they call it that “little bakery magic.”
Bottom Line
:
As I finish writing this article, filled with memories of chicken casserole and puffy muffins, I can’t help but feel a sense of warmth and nostalgia. The beautiful thing about food is that it brings people together and reminds us of precious moments shared with loved ones.
Now, the recipe for Joy’s Chicken Casserole may seem simple, but it carries with it a history of memories and tradition. The combination of tender chicken breasts boiled and chopped, mixed with creamy celery soup undiluted, crunchy water chestnuts, tangy ReaLemon juice and savory cheddar cheese creates a dish that is both satisfying and comforting. And let’s not forget the puffy muffins that accompany it! Their fluffy texture and sweetness balance out the flavors in the casserole perfectly.
But even more than just the taste, this recipe holds sentimental value for so many people. It represents families gathering around the table for a special meal, friends bonding over shared experiences, and bakers creating joy through their craft.
So I urge you to give Joy’s Chicken Casserole a try. Allow yourself to be transported back to fond memories and create new ones along the way. Share this recipe with your loved ones and create your own special moments to cherish. Who knows? Perhaps it will become a tradition in your family too – passed down from generation to generation.
Thank you for joining me on this journey of food and memories. I hope this recipe brings you as much joy as it has brought me over the years. Happy cooking!
Joy's Chicken Casserole (Memories in the Making - Puffy Muffin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts, boiled until tender and chopped
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 10 3/4 ounces cream of celery soup, undiluted
- 3 teaspoons ReaLemon juice
- 2 teaspoons onions, diced
- 1/2 cup water chestnut
Topping
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup potato chips, crushed
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients and mix well.
- Pour into a greased 9” x 9” pyrex dish.
- Top the casserole with the cheese and crushed potato chips.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
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Steven is a chef by heritage, so it’s no wonder why baking is such a big part of who he is. To share his passion for all things sweet, he created cookiesncrepes.com. It’s the perfect platform to indulge in delicious treats, all with a sprinkle of his signature flare.