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5.0 from 9 votes

Chicken Noodle Casserole

🍗🙌🏻💛 A modern spin on classic chicken noodle casserole and my EASY recipe does NOT use condensed soup. Instead, there's two types of melted cheese, juicy shredded chicken in every bite, and perfectly cooked noodles! This comfort food family favorite recipe comes together in 30 minutes so it's doable on busy weeknights, especially when the weather is chilly and you need a hearty dish!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 603 kcal
Course: Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 3 cups dry pasta or noodles cooked according to package directions (I used rotini, see FAQs in blog post for more ideas)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced small
  • 3 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen is fine; want to make a veggie swap? see the FAQs)
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
  • 1 cup heavy cream do not substitute
  • 2 ½ cups cooked and shredded chicken such as from a rotisserie chicken, or make your own chicken and shred it; see the FAQs for recommendations
  • 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese or diced into small cubes

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 400F and spray a 3 to 4-quart casserole or baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Noodles: Cook the pasta according to package directions, rinse, drain, and set aside. While the noodles or pasta are boiling, get to work on the next steps.
  3. Saute the Vegetables: To a large skillet, add olive oil, onion, and saute over medium-high heat for about 4 minutes; stir very frequently.
  4. Add the garlic and saute for 1 additional minute or until fragrant; stir constantly.
  5. Add the broccoli, salt, pepper, stir to combine, cover the skillet with a lid to (this allows steam to form so the broccoli cooks quicker), and cook for about 3 minutes. Tip - Make sure the broccoli florets are quite small to ensure they cook quickly. Plus, in a casserole, it's not preferred to bite into an overly large piece of broccoli.
  6. Heavy Cream: Add it and allow it to come to a very gentle boil, just barely bubbling, about 2-3 minutes. Tip - Be careful and do not allow it to boil too fast or hard. Cream (dairy proteins) + hard/heavy boiling do not mix well.
  7. Add the Chicken + Swiss: Add the shredded chicken, shredded Swiss, and stir constantly to encourage the cheese to melt.
  8. Combine + Transfer: Add the cooked noodles or pasta, stir well to combine, and transfer the mixture into a the prepared baking dish.
  9. Mozzarella + Bake: Evenly sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the top and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the top is as lightly golden browned as desired. Tips - Want a crispy/crunch topping? Combine 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs with 4 tbsp melted butter in a small bowl, stir, and sprinkle this over the top with the mozzarella. Want to make this in advance? Stop now before baking, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24-48 hours before baking it.
  10. Serving + Storage: Serve warm and fresh. Extra casserole will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the microwave for 30 seconds, or as desired.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 603kcal (30%) Carbohydrates 29g (10%) Protein 35g (70%) Fat 39g (60%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 137mg (46%) Sodium 639mg (27%) Potassium 412mg (12%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 1223IU (24%) Vitamin C 29mg (32%) Calcium 477mg (48%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 603

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 603kcal 30%
Carbohydrates 29g 10%
Protein 35g 70%
Fat 39g 60%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 137mg 46%
Sodium 639mg 27%
Potassium 412mg 9%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 1223IU 24%
Vitamin C 29mg 32%
Calcium 477mg 48%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.