Try to think all the way back to your high school cafeteria days. Although not all schools had equally well-equipped lunch programs, there were a few things served that you could typically count on as being delicious. For one thing, the crispy chicken sandwiches were usually pretty reliable. It was a good day whenever pizza was served and the nacho bar always hit the spot. Still, one special lunch treat (at least at my high school) was the chicken broccoli bake.
If you’ve never had this dish, it’s a delicious casserole that combines chicken, broccoli and other creamy ingredients for a mouth-watering blend of textures and flavors. And it’s also the recipe we’re going to be making, and upgrading, today! That’s right, we’re going to show you how to make a delicious chicken broccoli casserole with red peppers that’s better than any other chicken broccoli dish you may have tasted. Who said eating your veggies couldn’t be delicious? Let’s get started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 cups of cubed, cooked chicken
- 2 cups of broccoli florets
- 2 cups of chopped red bell pepper
- 2 cups of bread, cubed
- 1 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup of chopped white onion
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
Here’s what you do:
1. To get started, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. With that in the background, get out a large saucepan or skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Chop your red peppers and broccoli before adding them to the skillet, cooking them all until they’re just on the verge of tender and crisp, between eight to 10 minutes.
2. After that, add your onion as well and cook it all for another five minutes, until the onions turn soft. Add your garlic powder and season the pan with salt and pepper to taste as well. When you’re satisfied, take the pan off the heat.
3. Get out your baking dish and mix together your cooked chicken cubes and your veggie mixture. Pour in your can of mushroom soup as well and stir everything to combine.
4. Next, throw your bread cubes in a side bowl and drizzle melted butter on top of them, tossing it so that they get evenly coated. Spread those bread cubes over the chicken mixture and top everything off with your grated cheddar cheese.
5. With everything assembled, pop the baking dish in the oven and let it cook for 30 to 35 minutes. When the time is up, make sure the cheese is melted and the mixture inside it is bubbly. Set it aside to cool for about five minutes before serving.
The pairing of chicken and broccoli always works well together—and everyone knows cream of mushroom soup is a perfect addition to nearly any casserole. Still, it’s the added bonus of red peppers and seasonings that take this dish to a new level. It’s so easy to make and the results are a delicious, creamy dinner that you’ll want to eat all the time. As always, feel free to make this recipe your own and let us know how it all turns out!
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