Three Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine

This is one of my favorites.  It might seem a little complicated, but if you do some prep work ahead of time, it's not bad.  I usually just buy a rotisserie chicken instead of cooking my own.  I also usually add extra spinach, and sometimes I skip the red bell pepper.  You can assemble it and freeze it too.

Three Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine (from Cooking Light magazine)

• 1  teaspoon  olive oil
• Cooking spray
• 3  cups  thinly sliced mushrooms
• 1  cup  chopped onion
• 1  cup  chopped red bell pepper
• 3  cups  chopped fresh spinach
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh oregano
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  (16-ounce) carton 2% low-fat cottage cheese
• 4  cups  hot cooked penne (about 8 ounces uncooked tube-shaped pasta)
• 2  cups  shredded roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast
• 1  cup  (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/2  cup  2% reduced-fat milk
• 1  (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat, reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted

Preheat oven to 425°.

Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and bell pepper; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add spinach, oregano, and black pepper; sauté 3 minutes or just until spinach wilts.

Place cottage cheese in a food processor; process until very smooth. Combine spinach mixture, cottage cheese, pasta, chicken, 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, milk, and soup in a large bowl. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake at 425° for 25 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

[from Jaime]

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This is from Cooking Light but I make it with whatever version I have light or full fat. I serve it over rice with a side salad... it's sooo good!

For crisper broccoli, remove it from the boiling water after three minutes.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 3  quarts water
• 1  (12-ounce) package broccoli florets
• 4  (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1  (12-ounce) can evaporated fat-free milk
• 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour (about 1 ounce)
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• Dash of nutmeg
• 1  cup  fat-free mayonnaise
• 1/2  cup  fat-free sour cream
• 1/4  cup  dry sherry
• 1  teaspoon  Worcestershire sauce
• 1  (10.75-ounce) can condensed 30% reduced-sodium 98% fat-free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
• 1  cup  (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.

Bring water to a boil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add broccoli, and cook 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer broccoli to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Add chicken to boiling water; reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until done. Transfer chicken to a cutting board; cool slightly. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, and add chicken to bowl with broccoli.

Combine evaporated milk, flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a saucepan, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add mayonnaise, next 4 ingredients (through soup), and 1/2 cup cheese, stirring until well combined. Add mayonnaise mixture to broccoli mixture; stir gently until combined.

Spoon mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 400° for 50 minutes or until mixture bubbles at the edges and cheese begins to brown. Remove from oven; let cool on a wire rack 5 minutes.

[from cb0527 ]

Super Deeelicious Spaghetti Casserole

I'm from the south too, but didn't discover spaghetti casserole until after I got married.  My MIL makes it and the first time I tried it i was like, "Seriously, who knew you could put spaghetti in a CASSEROLE?!  Deep fry it and sell it at the fair!"  Anyway, it's completely addictive and here's the recipe:

Super Deeelicious Spaghetti Casserole

1/2 box of cooked noodles

1 stick butter

1 chopped onion

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

1 c. Mozzarella

1 c. Cheddar

1 to 1.5 lbs hamburger

2 tbs sugar

1 large jar spaghetti sauce

cook noodles and put them in the bottom of a 9x13 dish.  Melt the butter then sautee onion and melt the cream cheese together.  Spread over the noodles.  Brown the hamburger meat.  Add the sauce and the sugar, mix and spread over the cream cheese layer.  Cover with cheeses and cook at 350 for about 30-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

This is not low fat, but when you want a splurge, this is it!

[from ChasCHAS]

Corn Casserole

Corn Casserole

You'll need 2 can yellow cream-style corn, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1 can chopped green chiles (drained), 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 1 cup milk, 2 large eggs lightly beaten, 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 1*1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

Directions:

Combine first 6 ingredients.  Combine cornmeal, garlic salt, and baking soda then stir into the corn mixture.  Pour into an 11x7 dish and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until an knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

[from CB}

Carrot Souffle

Carrot Souffle

You'll need 1 lb carrots peeled & chopped, 3 large eggs lightly beaten, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup melted butter, 3 tablespoons flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Directions:

Bring carrots & enough water to cover to a boil.  Cook 45 mins or until very tender then drain.  Process carrots in a food processor until smooth.  Stir together carrot puree, eggs, & remaining ingredients.  Place in a 1 quart baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

[from CB}

Broccoli Casserole

Broccoli Casserole

You'll need 2 pkgs frozen chopped broccoli, 1/2 cup grated sharp cheese, 1/2 cup mayo, salt & pepper, 1 can mushroom soup, 1 egg well beaten, 1 tablespoon chopped onion (I use more), 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers, bacon bits

Directions:

Cook broccoli until done then drain.  Combine all ingredients (except crackers & bacon bits) then combine w/ broccoli.  Put in greased dish and bake 20 mins at 400 degrees.  Add crumbs and bacon bits on top and brown.

[from CB]

Delicious Chicken Casserole:

The first is from allrecipes.com and is called

Delicious Chicken Casserole:

You'll need 4-6 chicken breasts, 2 stalks celery, salt & pepper, 1 cup cooked rice, 6 ounces sour cream, 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, 1/4 teaspoon celery salt, 1/8 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers, 1/2 cup melted butter.

Directions:

Boil chicken, celery, salt and pepper (to taste), and enough water to cover.  Cover, reduce heat, & simmer 35 mins.  Drain but save 1 cup of the liquid broth first.  Cut or shred chicken into bite sized pieces.

Stir together sour cream, soup, broth, celery salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt & pepper to taste.  Mix in cooked rice and chicken.  Place in 9x13 casserole.  In a ziploc bag shake together crushed crackers and melted butter then sprinkle on top of casserole.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

[from CB}

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

This was favorite meal as a kid, and it's always been a big hit when I serve it too.   It sounds like a Mexican casserole, but once it's finished, it really just tastes like cheesy chicken yumminess.  It doesn't have Mexican spices, so it might be good for picky little eaters. I haven't tried it with E yet.  

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

  

2-3 lbs cooked, chopped chiken

1 cup chicken broth

8 oz. sour cream

10 flour tortillas (small size)          

2 cans cream of chicken soup

¼ cup chopped onion

4 cups cheddar cheese

-Combine chicken, onion, soup, and broth in a pot.

-Add salt and pepper.

-Cook until boiling.

-Remove from heat, and add sour cream.

-Fill tortillas with mixture from pot, sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up and place in a 9 x 13 baking dish (cover bottom with filled and rolled tortillas).

-Pour remaining mixture over rolled tortillas.

-Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

-Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

-Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

[from Amanda]

ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

Here's my mom's enchilda casserole recipe that we LOVE.  Oh how I wish DH like Mexican food so I could cook this at home.

ENCHILADA CASSEROLE

INGREDIENTS
1.5 lbs ground beef
1/2 medium onion (diced)
1 green bell pepper (diced)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can mild enchilada sauce
1/2 can diced rotel tomatoes
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
Corn tortillas

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Brown meat, onions, bell peppers and drain
2.  Add canned ingredients and cook until bubbles
3.  Line bottom of 9x12" dish with tortillas (torn into quarters)
4.  Pour 1/2 mixture over tortillas
5. Layer tortillas and mixture until gone
6.  Top with grated cheese
7.  Cook 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees

**I recently discovered this could be made even easier my layering the bottom with premade taquitos and then adding all the rest on top.  Not quite as good but good enough if time calls for the change. You don't have to brown the meat and you wouldn't need to have all the layers.

[from Becca]

Chicken & Rice Casserole

I often times do a chicken and rice casserole which is easy, can be made ahead and reheats well. You bread 4 chicken breasts with flour/salt/pepper and brown in the oil of your choice. Meanwhile put some chopped onion, can of mushrooms with juice and 1/2 cup saffron rice, 1/4 cup regular rice (I use brown rice) in a casserole dish. Place chicken breasts on top and pour a can of chicken broth over the whole thing. Bake on 350 for 1 hour.


[from ldinap]

Chicken Casserole

Ok, I am so not into canned items but I will admit, this is SUCH a YUMMY casserole! I'll post it on the blog, too! It makes a lot--about two casserole dishes full--and freezes well.

Chicken Casserole

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cooked and shredded)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 jar of any salsa (regular brands like Ortega with green chilis work well)
2-3 cups grated cheddar (I like sharp)
1 package corn tortillas (cut into strips)
1 soup can of milk

Spray a casserole dish (or dishes) with cooking spray.  In a blender, mix soups, milk and about 2/3 jar of salsa. Layer casserole dish:

-    One layer tortilla strips
-    Chicken
-    Sauce
-    Cheese

Top with more cheese. Freeze or bake at 375 for about 50 minutes. YUMMY!


[from Casey]

Hashbrown Casserole

1 bag frozen hashbrown potatoes, thawed
1/2 stick butter, melted
16 oz. sour cream (lite or fat free)
1 can cream of chicken soup

1-2 cups shredded cheese
1/3 cup diced onion
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp garlicpowder

Topping: 1/2 stick melted butter & 2 cups crushed corn flakes or Crispix



*Pour your potatoes into a large bowl and toss with t he butter. Add the sour cream, soup, and seasonings and stir well. Add the onion and cheese and fold.

*Pour into a greased casserole dish. Mix the butter and ceral together well and cover the potatoes mix. Cover with foil.

*Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.


***This could easily be turned into a one dish meal by adding in diced chicken and your choice of veggie.

[from Doodiebug30]

Curried Chicken Casserole

Curried Chicken Casserole



3 cups cooked white rice
2 pkg. frozen chopped broccoli (10 oz. each), thawed

2 large chicken breasts, cut up & cooked

2 cans Soup (1 cream of mush. & 1 cream of Chicken)

¾ cup mayo

¾ cup milk

1 tbs lemon juice

2-3 tsp curry powder (2 makes it spicy but not hot)




*Heat oven to 350. Coat a 12 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
*Layer the cooked rice, about ¾ of the broccoli and the chicken in pan. (Season the chicken while cooking)
*In a large bowl, mix the soups, milk, mayo, lemon juice and curry powder together. Spread the sauce evenly over the top; sprinkle remaining broccoli over the top.
*Bake 30 minutes covered with foil. Uncover and bake another 15.

[from Doodiebug30]

Layered Mexican Bake

Layered Mexican Bake



1-1/2 lb. extra-lean ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

2 green peppers, chopped

4 tsp. chili powder*

2-1/2 cups chunky red salsa

2 pkg. (10 oz. each) frozen corn

6 high-fiber whole wheat tortillas (8 inch)

1 cup Reduced Fat Cream

1-1/2 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese, divided

1. HEAT oven to 375ºF.
2. BROWN meat with onions and peppers in large skillet on medium-high heat. Stir in chili powder; cook 1 min. Add salsa and corn; mix well. Simmer 5 min.
3. SPREAD 2 cups meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with layers of 2 tortillas, 1 cup meat sauce, sour cream and 1/2 cup cheese. Cover with 2 tortillas, 2 cups of remaining meat sauce and half of remaining cheese; top with remaining tortillas and meat sauce. Cover with foil.
4. BAKE 30 min. or until casserole is heated through. Top with remaining cheese; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until melted.

*I don't put that much chili powder in when I make it and Emma is eating it though.

[from Molly]