Winter Dish Casserole (Printer-friendly)
Hearty winter casserole with chicken, root vegetables, and a creamy herb sauce for cozy meals.
# What you'll need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large carrots, sliced
03 - 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
04 - 1 small butternut squash, peeled and diced
05 - 1 leek, sliced
06 - 1 onion, diced
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 7 oz button mushrooms, sliced
→ Sauce
09 - 1 cup chicken stock (gluten-free if needed)
10 - ¾ cup heavy cream (or dairy-free cream alternative)
11 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Topping
16 - 3 oz grated Gruyère or cheddar cheese (or dairy-free cheese alternative)
→ Optional
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)
# Method:
01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F (190°C).
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned, approximately 5 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add diced onion, sliced leek, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
04 - Add sliced carrots, chopped parsnips, diced butternut squash, and sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
05 - Return browned chicken to the skillet. Stir in chicken stock, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture gently for 5 minutes.
06 - Pour the mixture into a large, ovenproof casserole dish, spreading evenly.
07 - Sprinkle grated cheese uniformly over the surface.
08 - Cover the dish with foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
09 - Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until the topping is golden and bubbling.
10 - Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes prior to serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- One dish, minimal cleanup, and your whole kitchen smells incredible while it bakes.
- The cream and mustard create this sophisticated sauce that feels fancy but comes together in minutes.
- It reheats beautifully, making it perfect for those nights when you need comfort food without the fuss.
02 -
- Don't skip browning the chicken; that golden exterior is where half the flavor lives.
- If your cream looks like it's about to break or curdle, lower the heat and stop stirring so vigorously—gentle is better than aggressive.
- The foil covering is non-negotiable for the first half of baking; without it, the top browns too fast and the inside stays watery.
03 -
- Cut your vegetables into similar sizes so they cook at the same rate; ragged pieces finish before uniform chunks.
- Brown the chicken in a single layer without crowding the pan—patience here means better flavor and texture.