Cheesy Chicken Casserole

I like the scent of baking casseroles on a cold day. It gives the family great hopes of a fantastic dinner! Any time I can add some cheese, just improved the production for me. This is a basic recipe in that there is plenty are places where you can add or subtract seasoning, etc. for personalizing the taste profile. Just add a big, green salad and you will have a happy group around the dinner table.

Cheesy Chicken Casserole
16 ounces wide, egg noodles
½ cup diced red and green bell pepper
1 large onion, minced
3 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped
1 stalk of celery, diced
1/4 cup butter, sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth - homemade or canned
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 cup diced Monterey Jack cheese
6-8 cups of cooked, cubed chicken
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced parsley

Cook noodles until just done; drain, and set aside.

In a large frying pan, braise the peppers, onion, garlic, and celery in the butter until tender. Add the mushrooms and cook another few minutes until tender. Remove vegetables to a bowl and set aside.

Do not wipe out the pan! Add the flour to the skillet and stir in the remaining fat in the pan until blended and warm through. You might need a bit more butter.  Gradually add the broth and bring to a boil, cooking and stirring for about 2-3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Reduce heat and stir in cream and milk bringing it back to a slow simmer. Add the cheese and cook until melted. Remove from heat.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, salt, pepper, noodles, pepper mixture, parsley, and cheese sauce, stirring to combine and coat. Transfer to either one large or two smaller baking dishes. Sprinkle on the topping, cover and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes or until the topping is golden and the chicken mixture is bubbly.

Topping:

1 cup Panko or toasted bread crumbs
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon poultry seasoning

Combine all the ingredients and sprinkle over the casserole(s).