Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Level: Easy
- Yield: 4 servings
- Total: 40 min
- Prep: 5 min
- Cook: 35 min
Ingredients
Vegetable cooking spray
1/4 cup butter (2 tablespoons whole and 2 tablespoons melted)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
2 cups leftover filling from Chicken Pot Pies, recipe follows
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 (16-ounce) package egg noodles, par-cooked and drained
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Chicken Pot Pies:
1 box pie crust
1 whole (4-pound) chicken, cut into parts
5 cups water
Salt
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
3 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
1 cup frozen peas
1 tablespoon milk
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray casserole baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of the whole butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook while constantly stirring for 2 minutes, to cook out the raw flour taste. Add the milk while whisking, until you have a smooth sauce. Stir in the chicken pot pie filling and bring to a simmer.
- In a small bowl, add the bread crumbs, the 2 tablespoons of remaining melted butter, the parsley, and salt and pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine the pot pie mixture and the noodles. Stir in the cheese and pour it into the casserole dish.
- Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the casserole and bake until the top is golden brown, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Chicken Pot Pies:
- Prepare the pie crust according to the package directions. Divide it into 4 equal portions, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Put the chicken breast in a medium pot and cover with 5 cups of water.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat and add salt, to taste. (Reserve the legs and thighs for another use.)
- Simmer until the chicken is completely cooked through, skimming any fat that rises to the surface, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken, to a cutting board and when cool enough to handle remove the meat and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Reserve the broth the chicken was cooked in.
- In a medium pot heat the canola oil over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, salt and pepper, to taste, and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour, poultry seasoning, and thyme and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly pour in the reserved 4 1/2 cups of chicken broth, whisking to remove any lumps. Add the chicken and peas, bring to a boil, then remove from the heat. (Reserve 2 cups for another use.)
- Divide the remaining mixture between 4 (14-ounce) ramekins. (Alternately, the pot pie can be made in 1 (9-inch) pie pan.)
- Roll out the 4 pieces of pie dough to 1/4-inch thick rounds. Brush the edges of the ramekins with milk. Cover each ramekin with a piece of dough and press around the edges to seal. Cut a steam vent in the top of each piece of dough and brush with milk. Arrange on a baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about 40 to 45 minutes.