How to make chicken casserole?

[heartyfoodfortheheart]

Hi! Really not feeling great and feel like warm and hearty food. Does anyone have any recipe ideas for a chicken casserole without a slow cooker? I saw a video of chicken casserole on TikTok which had chicken (thighs I think) and veggies and potatoes in it and it looked so good but it used a slow cooker and didn’t include the recipe. Does anyone have any good go to recipes or tips? I’ve never made it before but for some reason I’m craving it now! I’ve actually got a casserole dish but I’ve never used it yet. Thanks so much x

If it makes any difference at all, the video I saw the gravy had more of a broth consistency rather than a creamy sauce if that makes sense x

Chicken, veg, chicken stock in a casserole dish. On at about 180 for an hour or so, depends upon how big the chicken/veg pieces are.

You can use the slow cooker recipes - just do it on the hob. They don’t need to be on there all day. Or I’ve made this which is nice. https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-white-bean-stew

You can follow a slow cooker recipe and just cook it slowly in a low oven. Brown chicken and veg on the hob, add herbs/aromatics, stock to cover plus a bit more as it will evaporate, bring to a simmer and stick in a low oven for a few hours.

Thank you all so much! Sounds silly but am I ok to leave the potatoes in for the full cooking time? Or do they go in separately? And for browning the chicken- does that literally just mean lightly frying the outside of it?

(is it obvious I’m not long moved out and having to learn to cook for myself? Haha)

Definitely use chicken thighs; they're so much tastier. Soak them in well-salted water for a couple of hours first, as that massively improves the flavour.

.... Norfolk Black free range chicken is excellent. I get it from Sainsbury's - I don't know where else it's sold.

I am literally eating this now! I cooked it during the week and have had loads of leftovers. Delicious 😋

For a simple casserole brown seasoned chicken thighs (skinless up to you if you use bone in or out) take them out, add leeks, diced carrot, parsnip/swede any root veg, some dried sage and thyme, salt and pepper, soften for about 5 minutes, add chicken back in then add stock , bring to simmer then chuck the whole lot in the oven on 160 for an hour or two , if you want potatoes in it add them about 40 minutes before the end, I usually serve casserole with new potatoes/mash/jackets and green veg instead

And now I fancy a hearty casserole and not the seabass I have planned for dinner

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_casserole_with_67654

I'm making this one today - made it before and it's gorgeous

I make casserole like my mum did . Chicken cooked / browned but the cut into small pieces so no bones and fork sized for eating . Put that in the casserole dish , then add veg that I’m using . Mix it all up and then stick a chicken stock pot ( cube would do as well ) on top and then put in a tin of chicken soup and top up with water to the right level . Stick it in the oven and cook for as long as needed . Personally I think the longer it’s stewed the better it tastes . We are mainly pescatarian now so I just do the same without the chicken and using a veg stock pot and vegetable soup .

An hour in the oven isn't quite long enough.

I do 1 hour 50 mins at 175°C and it's the busio!

Brown some floured and seasoned chicken thighs then remove them from the pan.

Fry bacon and diced onion, celery, carrots together. When soft, add garlic and halved chestnut mushrooms. Put the vegetables and the chicken thighs in to a casserole dish, add a glass of white wine, chicken stock, bay leaves, sprigs of thyme and salt and pepper. Simmer for about an hour or so (longer if it is in the oven)

If you want it creamy add a spoonful of creme fraiche at the end.

@heartyfoodfortheheart I think you have some lovely recipes here. And I second you do not need a slow cooker , a pot on the hob works as well.

If I am raiding the fridge , any chicken I have - so thighs , cut up breasts - brown those , then onion I like. bit of garlic in in the pot then chicken in , stock , a slosh of white wine if you have it , bit of salt and pepper and then any vegetables , mushrooms etc , just keep it simmering and then when most of the liquid has gone chuck in a bit of creme fraiche stir it and it's nice .

I'd do it with baked potatoes as you can do those whilst the casserole is doing its best

I would do very similar to this, but omit the evil mushrooms.
If you don't have any wine, put a squeeze of lemon juice in.

I also do it with chicken drumsticks.

Whatever you decide, swap the potatoes for dumplings! Much better comfort food

This isn’t the quickest but it is truly divine. I like it with mash.

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/type-of-dish/one-pot-recipes/chicken-in-the-pot

Onion, Garlic, chicken (thighs or cut up breast), white wine, herbs, passata, salt and pepper, stock if I have any, maybe a pinch of chilli powder. Put it all in a casserole gas 5 ish. Cook for a couple of hours stirring every half hour. Serve with potatoes or pasta and any veg you like. You could brown the chicken, onions, garlic, but you're adding extra fat and I'm not convinced it makes much difference and I'm lazy.

I broke my slow cooker. I bought a pyrex casserole dish and do stews/casseroles in that now. I chuck everything in pork/beef/chicken and veg and cook for about 2.5 hours on 180. The higher the gas, the less time. If I'm adding beans/chick peas/split red lentils, I put them in for the last 45 minutes, or less if I precook them.

Thank you all so much! It’s in the oven now and I’m so excited for it- the only thing is, I’m worried it won’t be fully cooked. It’s diced chicken thighs, and they’ve been in a casserole dish in the oven at 170 degrees for 1 hour 30 minutes. It’s a thick clay casserole dish. I checked on the chicken and it seemed cooked but still pinkish but it’s thigh not breast so sometimes does look a bit pink even when cooked. Ahh! Does anyone know how to tell when this is fully cooked? Thanks!

If it's had an hour and a half at 170 I can't see how it wont be cooked. It was hot when you put it in the oven ?

Yeah the oven was hot i preheated it, the chicken was lightly cooked by pan frying it but only very lightly and then I put it in with boiling water and stock and veggies and potatoes x

Was the thick clay pot cold or did you preheat it,? I have had times where I put hot ingredients into cold casserole dish and it took ages to return to the high heat needed.

You could fish out the chicken pieces and microwave them for a few minutes if you need to speed it up!

Don't microwave it!! Be patient