Baked Chicken Noodle Casserole

A hearty and complete comfort food that consists of egg noodles, chicken tenderloin, mushrooms, green peas, and Parmesan cheese all in one dish, Baked Chicken Noodle Casserole is a meal that the whole family will enjoy. It’s perfect for busy weekdays and lazy weekends. One of the best things about this dish is that it is so simple to make; you practically throw in all the ingredients together and wait for it to cook until it is nice and bubbly. One bite of this chicken noodle casserole dish is enough to uplift any downtrodden spirit. Try this recipe as it's one of the healthy and easy recipes for dinner.

The wonderful flavors and aroma meld and come together in this delectable casserole dish. Us whole grain egg noodles for a more nutritious dish. Before making the casserole, the can of mushrooms needs to be rinsed, drained and sliced. You can also use fresh mushrooms for this recipe, which is even better. If you wish to use dried mushrooms, soak the mushrooms in water for a few hours before use. The best types of mushrooms for use in this recipe are button or white mushrooms. You can also use more flavorful and earthy mushrooms for a more exquisite flavor. Canned mushrooms are convenient to use but fresh mushrooms have better flavor and texture.

Casserole is best cooked in a casserole dish, a deep ovenproof dish made of glass, cast iron, or ceramic with a tight-fitting lid. The noodles and the chicken need to be cooked before they are combined together in the casserole dish for baking. The chicken stock or broth also needs to be prepared beforehand. If you are using fresh raw mushrooms instead of canned and precooked mushrooms, sauté them with the chicken and peas before adding to the casserole dish. Inside the oven, the ingredients will warm slowly and come together in a beautiful harmony.

Difficulty Level

Average

Ingredients

6 oz. whole grain egg noodles

6 tbsp. olive oil

8 oz. (1 can) sliced mushrooms, rinsed and drained

6 tbsp. flour

1 2/3 cup fat-free chicken broth

1 cup skim milk

Salt to taste

1/2 tsp. coarse ground black pepper

1 cups chicken tenderloin, cooked and diced

1 cup frozen peas

1/2 cup low-fat grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2 1/2 – 3 qt. baking dish.

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain.

While noodles are cooking, heat olive oil over low heat in a large skillet. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender.

Blend in flour and stir until mixture is smooth and bubbly.

Slowly add chicken broth, milk, salt and pepper, stirring constantly until thickened. Stir in chicken, peas and cheese. Add noodles.

Spoon mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle extra cheese over top, if desired. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.