Description
Homemade Creamy Chicken Delight Casserole brings comfort straight from grandmother’s kitchen, blending tender chicken with velvety sauce and golden cheese. Savory layers meld perfectly, promising a warm embrace that satisfies hunger and warms souls with each delicious forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) boneless chicken fillets, diced
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 celery sticks, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Liquid and Binding Ingredients:
- 750 milliliters (3.17 cups) chicken stock
- 1 cup cream
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 3 tablespoons cornflour
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Garnish:
- Italian parsley, chopped
Accompaniment:
- Mashed potato
Instructions
- Ignite the oven to 180°C, creating the perfect warm environment for a sumptuous casserole.
- Select a robust cast-iron casserole dish and drizzle olive oil across its surface. Introduce diced onions, carrots, and celery, allowing them to dance and soften over medium heat for approximately five minutes.
- Sprinkle crushed garlic into the vegetable medley, creating an aromatic foundation. Create a small clearing in the center and melt butter until it transforms into a golden, bubbling pool.
- Dust flour over the glistening butter, whisking meticulously to craft a silky, lump-free roux. Toast this mixture for two minutes, developing rich, nutty undertones.
- Deglaze the dish with chicken stock, using a wooden spoon to liberate any caramelized fragments clinging to the bottom. Incorporate diced chicken fillets, ensuring they nestle comfortably within the liquid.
- Seal the casserole with its lid and slide into the preheated oven. Allow the contents to meld and transform for 45 minutes, developing deep, harmonious flavors.
- Carefully extract the casserole and introduce vibrant green peas and luxurious cream, stirring gently to integrate these new elements.
- Prepare a cornflour slurry by combining cornflour with cold water, then fold this thickening agent into the casserole, watching as the sauce gradually transforms.
- Return the uncovered dish to the oven for a final 15-minute transformation, allowing the sauce to reach a perfect, velvety consistency that promises culinary satisfaction.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Chop vegetables and dice chicken in advance to streamline cooking process and save precious time in the kitchen.
- Cookware Tip: Use a cast-iron casserole dish for even heat distribution and enhanced flavor development during cooking.
- Seasoning Boost: Consider adding dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to elevate the overall taste profile of the casserole.
- Texture Control: Adjust cornflour mixture carefully to achieve desired sauce thickness without making it too runny or too dense.
- Substitution Options: Swap chicken with turkey or use vegetable stock for a different dietary preference or nutritional variation.
- Serving Suggestion: Pair with crusty bread or steamed rice to soak up the delicious, creamy sauce and complete the meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg