Description
This comforting Chicken and Stuffing Casserole combines tender chicken, savory sausage, fresh vegetables, and creamy sauce topped with a flavorful stuffing mixture. It’s an easy, hearty dish perfect for family dinners that brings together classic flavors in a convenient bake.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 rib celery, diced
- 3 cooked sausage links, finely diced
- 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 ½ cups frozen green beans, thawed and patted dry
Sauce Ingredients
- 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon ground sage
Stuffing Topping
- 6 oz. dry stuffing mix
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking.
- Sauté Vegetables and Sausage: Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add diced onions, celery, and sausage, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and pat dry. Arrange them evenly on the bottom of a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make Sauce: In a bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, dried thyme, and ground sage. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken, spreading it to cover the pieces.
- Add Green Beans: Spread the thawed green beans over the sauce layer. For softer beans, gently press them into the sauce so they partially submerge.
- Prepare Stuffing Topping: In a bowl, mix the dry stuffing mix, chicken broth, and the sautéed onion, celery, and sausage mixture. Spread this evenly over the green beans layer.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the stuffing to set.
- Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the cover and bake for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the stuffing topping.
- Serve: Serve the casserole hot, ideally accompanied by mashed potatoes and your favorite chicken gravy for a complete meal.
Notes
- To achieve softer green beans, press them partially into the sauce layer before adding the stuffing topping.
- The sausage adds extra flavor, but you can substitute with cooked bacon or omit for a milder taste.
- Use your preferred stuffing mix; homemade or store-bought both work well.
- This casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking straight from the fridge.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: chicken casserole, stuffing casserole, baked chicken, sausage casserole, comfort food, dinner recipe
