Chicken & Mushroom Casserole (a.k.a. Chicken Gloria)
With food costs rising, you can’t beat buying a whole rotisserie chicken at Sam’s Club or Costco for less than $5! I have adapted this recipe to incorporate using whole rotisserie chicken (saving you that cooking step!). I have also included the ingredients and steps if you choose to use raw chicken.
Chicken & Mushroom Casserole (a.k.a. Chicken Gloria) Recipe
Ingredients (Serves 4-6)
1 whole cooked rotisserie chicken (deboned, skin removed & shredded)
3 Tbsp olive oil
1-pound white mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 medium onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
Ingredients for the Sauce:
3 Tbsp unsalted butter
3 Tbsp all-purpose flour, for the sauce
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 cup half and half, or ½ cup milk + ½ cup heavy cream
*Laurie’s Ingredient Tip: If you’re trying to cut cost, don’t buy the pre-packaged, sliced mushrooms. If available, choose whole, bulk mushrooms and slice yourself. You can pick the freshest mushrooms and save close to $1.50 per lb.!
*Optional Raw Chicken Ingredients*:
2 ½ lbs. chicken breasts, (4 to 5 large), cut into 1-inch-thick strips
1 ½ tsp sea salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp black pepper, plus more to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour, to coat the chicken
3 Tbsp olive oil
Directions (If using cooked, rotisserie chicken, skip to step 2)
Step 1: Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge both sides in flour. Heat 3 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Once oil is hot, add chicken and sauté until golden. Work in batches if needed so you don't crowd your pan. Don't worry about cooking the chicken through; it still needs to go in the oven.
Step 2: Transfer chicken to a 13×9 casserole baking dish. Scrape of any debris from the skillet. Add 3 Tbsp oil along with sliced mushrooms and diced onions and sauté until soft and golden. Add garlic and sauté another 1-2 min. Spread mixture over the chicken.
Step 3: In a medium saucepan (or in the same pan you’ve been using), melt 3 Tbsp butter. Whisk in 3 Tbsp flour until lightly golden (1-2 min).
Step 4: Add 1 ½ cups chicken broth, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp pepper, and whisk until smooth. Add 1 cup half & half and bring to a simmer. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 5: Pour sauce over the chicken and mushrooms. Cover with foil and bake at 350˚F for 45 minutes. Serve warm or hot over mashed potatoes, pasta, rice or biscuits.
