Everyday Chicken Casserole

By Stephanie Manley Updated 12/12/24

Everyday Chicken Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner! Left-over cooked chicken, noodles, and a creamy sauce make for an inexpensive effortless meal your whole family will love.

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Everyday chicken casserole in a baking dish and two bowls.

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Leftover chicken casserole

My Everyday chicken casserole recipe is the perfect way to use cooked leftover chicken and turn it into a tasty creamy casserole. This easy chicken casserole recipe combines simple ingredients, including bell pepper, celery, white onion, and noodles, then creates a creamy taste with dairy – butter, milk, and cheese.

Casseroles are easy to make!

One-pot meals are perfect for busy cooks who don’t have time to make “fussy” recipes. Casseroles are the easiest kind of meal for weekday dinners because they are whole meals baked in just one casserole dish. Indeed, there are so many advantages of casseroles, including:

  • If you have a pantry stocked with basic ingredients, then preparing a casserole dish is no big deal. No need to make a special shopping trip.
  • A tasty way to use up leftover meat and leftover vegetables.
  • Perfect for experimenting with different ingredients. Casseroles are truly forgiving, allowing you the freedom to add or reduce ingredients as per your taste.
  • Can be prepared ahead of time. Just cover and store in your refrigerator. Heat up your casserole when you are ready to eat, and you have a perfect meal on your table.
  • Can be frozen. When you make a family favorite, consider fixing two of them. Place the spare one in your freezer and bake when needed.
  • Easy clean up; only one dish to take care of.

Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make a chicken casserole:

  • Chicken
  • Butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Milk
  • Chicken broth
  • Shredded cheese
  • Bell pepper
  • Celery
  • White onion
  • Noodles
Everyday chicken casserole ingredients on a tray.

How to make chicken casserole

  1. Melt butter then blend in flour, salt, and pepper.
  2. Add milk and broth. Cook until thick and smooth.
  3. Stir in cheese.
  4. Sauté onion, green pepper, and celery in butter.
  5. Add broth and simmer for 5 minutes.
  6. Add cooked vegetables, noodles, and chicken to the sauce.
  7. Place mixture in a casserole dish.
  8. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
Everyday chicken casserole with cheese and noodles in a baking dish and bowls.

How to cook chicken for a casserole

Boil the chicken breast for ten minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, use two forks to pull the breast apart. If you want smaller pieces, you can shred the larger chunks with your hands.

Tips for freezing your casseroles

Although most casseroles can be frozen, there are a few guidelines to follow for best results:

  • Starchy ingredients such as pasta, rice, beans, etc. should not be overcooked as they will become mushy when reheated. Cooking them al dente is ideal.
  • Use full-fat dairy products in casserole dishes. Using low-fat cheeses and milk will result in a rubbery texture once thawed and reheated
  • If your casserole includes a crunchy topping, wait until the serving day to add it. Otherwise, your crunchy topping will not be crunchy at all, but horribly soggy.
  • When placing in your freezer, cover your casserole with freezer paper or foil, not plastic wrap.
  • For best results, let the casserole dish thaw in your refrigerator while you’re at work. Once home, bake at 350°F until heated through.
Two bowls of everyday chicken casserole and two forks.

Love chicken casseroles? Be sure to check out these recipes

Don’t miss these reader’s favorite casseroles

Find even more easy casserole recipes and the best chicken dinner recipes right here on CopyKat.com!

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Everyday Chicken Casserole

You are going to love this creamy chicken casserole with noodles. 
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5 from 2 votes
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients
 

  • 6 tablespoons butter divided use
  • 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups chicken broth divided use
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 1 diced bell pepper
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 cup noodles cooked and drained
  • 2 cups chicken cooked and chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Melt 4 tablespoons butter; blend in flour and seasonings.
  3. Add milk and 1 cup broth; cook until thick and smooth. Stir in cheese.
  4. Sauté onion, green pepper, and celery in remaining butter. Add 1 cup broth, stir, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  5. Add to sauce with noodles and chicken.
  6. Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 273mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 605IU | Vitamin C: 16.9mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 0.9mg
Tried This Recipe?Leave a comment and rating to let people know how you liked it! Tag me on Instagram @copykatrecipes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

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10 Comments

  1. My husband and I enjoyed it however. I used sour cream with chives to spice it up. It almost tasted like a chicken alfredo dishl. My husband usually thinks my cooking is bland but he LOVED this one. When I make it again I’ll serve with noodles for a little more texture!

  2. 5 stars
    DELICIOuS! Followed recipe exactly except for baking it in the oven. I just combined everything at the end and let it simmer on the stove for a few more minutes! Will definitely be making it again! Thank you for the great recipe.😊