Feed the entire household and nonetheless have leftovers with this hearty, home-style Hen Noodle Casserole! This straightforward casserole recipe is loaded with tender egg noodles, shredded rooster, and candy veggies in a tacky cream sauce, topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust.
This creamy rooster noodle casserole has all of the comforting flavors of Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, wrapped up in layers of tender egg noodles and veggies mixed with cream, rooster, and cheese. With a crunchy Ritz cracker topping, it’s the proper solution to welcome in casserole season!
I’ll make this up on a Sunday and pop it within the fridge, so it’s able to bake up bubbly and golden in the course of the week. This healthful rooster noodle casserole is a filling meal that’s nice for youths, and this recipe makes greater than sufficient to feed a crowd. You’re going to adore it!
What You’ll Want
This hearty rooster noodle casserole recipe is jam-packed with all types of flavor-filled but easy components. I’ve rounded up what you’ll want under, with the total quantities out there within the recipe card additional down within the publish.
Olive Oil, Onion, and Celery: Diced onion and celery sauteed in olive oil make up the aromatics within the taste base.
Combined Greens: Combined frozen veggies are my no-fuss, first selection for this basic rooster noodle casserole. I take advantage of a medley that has carrots, peas, inexperienced beans, and candy corn.
Egg Noodles: I like to recommend utilizing broad egg noodles for this recipe. All of the extra floor space to be coated within the creamy sauce!
Hen: You’ll want cooked and shredded rooster. I’ll typically use rotisserie rooster, although this straightforward casserole recipe is one in all my favourite methods to make use of up any rooster leftovers I may need within the fridge.
Cream of Hen Soup: You’ll want 2 cans of basic cream of rooster soup (or cream of mushroom soup). That is my shortcut to a great deal of taste, nevertheless, see under for substitutions if you happen to’re not a fan of condensed soups.
Half-and-Half: I really like the richness that comes from half-and-half, however you should use complete milk as effectively if you happen to want. Or, go all out with heavy cream if you happen to’re after an additional decadent rooster casserole.
Cheddar Cheese: I like to recommend utilizing freshly grated cheddar within the cream sauce. The pre-grated form has a waxy coating that gained’t soften as easily.
Salt and Pepper
Ritz Crackers: Crushed Ritz crackers combined with melted butter make up the crispy casserole topping.
Can I Substitute the Condensed Soup?
If you happen to’d want to make this casserole with out the cream of rooster soup, no downside. Listed below are some straightforward substitutions:
2 cups of bitter cream or plain Greek Yogurt
Whisk 2 eggs into the half-and-half (this may even assist to bind the components)
Learn how to Make Hen Noodle Casserole
Get your oven preheated and let’s make a comforting rooster noodle casserole!
Cook dinner the Veggies: Saute the onion and celery in a skillet with olive oil to melt them a bit. After about 10 minutes, stir within the frozen vegetable medley and as soon as the veggies are warmed by, set the pan apart.
Put together the Filling: In a big pot of water, get your egg noodles boiling in accordance with the package deal instructions. In the meantime, mix the shredded rooster with the cream of rooster soup, cream, and shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper, then stir within the sauteed veggies.
Add the Noodles: As soon as the egg noodles are cooked al dente, gently fold them into the filling combination. Spoon the casserole filling right into a calmly greased baking dish.
Add the Topping and Bake: Lastly, mix the crushed crackers with melted butter and sprinkle the combination over the casserole. Bake at 375°F for half-hour, till the Ritz topping is good and golden.
Suggestions and Variation Concepts
Listed below are some closing suggestions and simple variations for this super-easy casserole:
Use a store-bought rotisserie rooster. I’m all a couple of path of least resistance on a weeknight, and it is a zero-fuss shortcut to cooked rooster that’s able to shred!
Learn how to inform when the casserole is completed: This creamy rooster casserole is completed cooking when it’s deliciously golden on high and effervescent on the edges.
Use turkey as a substitute. Swap out the shredded rooster for shredded turkey meat to make a turkey noodle casserole.
Add much more (or totally different) veggies. You possibly can actually add any greens you’d prefer to this casserole recipe. Different good choices are chopped broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, butternut squash, and asparagus.
Completely different cheese. This rooster noodle casserole may be custom-made with a mix of your favourite melty cheeses. Attempt including Swiss cheese, parmesan cheese, Provolone, or Gruyere.
Methods to Serve
We love having fun with this rooster noodle casserole as a principal dish with a aspect of contemporary inexperienced salad or steamed or sautéed veggies. It’s actually a meal multi function!
It’s additionally simply nice as a comfy aspect dish, and the proper solution to bulk up a meal. Listed below are some easier dinner recipes to serve alongside it:
Storing and Reheating Hen Noodle Casserole
Leftover rooster noodle casserole may be refrigerated hermetic for as much as 3 days.
The casserole may be reheated complete or in parts. I want to reheat it within the oven, because it permits the topping to crisp up a little bit. Heat the casserole in an oven-safe dish at 350ºF till it’s sizzling all through.
You too can reheat parts within the microwave, although the Ritz crackers will probably be a little bit mushy.
Can I Freeze This?
Completely! It’s really finest to freeze rooster noodle casserole earlier than it’s baked. Right here’s find out how to make it forward and freeze it for as much as 1 month:
Observe the casserole recipe proper up till you’re meant so as to add the Ritz cracker topping. I like to recommend leaving off the cracker crust till after the casserole is thawed and earlier than you go to bake it.
Wrap the casserole dish tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, plus a layer of aluminum foil.
Thaw the rooster noodle casserole in a single day within the fridge. Earlier than baking, add the Ritz cracker topping, then bake as directed. Notice that you could be want so as to add a number of additional minutes to the cooking time if you happen to’re baking the casserole chilled from the fridge.
A hearty, home-style Hen Noodle Casserole brimming with tender noodles, shredded rooster, and veggies in a creamy sauce, baked underneath a crispy Ritz cracker crust.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup small diced yellow onion
2 celery stalks, diced
1 (12- ounce bag) combined greens
12 ounces broad egg noodles
3 – 4 cups cooked shredded rooster (I like to make use of rotisserie rooster)
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9 x13 baking pan calmly with nonstick spray and put aside.
Warmth olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Cook dinner the diced onion and celery till softened, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add within the frozen greens and prepare dinner for two – 3 extra minutes till heat. Take away from the warmth and put aside.
Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and prepare dinner in accordance with the package deal instructions till al dente. Drain.
Whereas the noodles are boiling, combine collectively the rooster, cream of rooster soup, half and half, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper in a big bowl. Add within the cooked vegetable combination and stir to mix. Fold within the cooked noodles.
Switch the combination to the ready pan.
Combine collectively the crushed crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle the combination evenly on high of the casserole.
Bake for half-hour till the highest is golden brown.
