Boneless skinless chicken thighs can easily be prepared in several ways, making them an easy option for weeknight dinners as they require little preparation time and are quick and simple to cook.
Lemon adds an irresistibly zesty twist to any dish, pairing perfectly with earthy legumes like lentils or helping balance out fatty chicken thighs.
1. Chicken and Rice Casserole
Creamy chicken and rice casserole is an easy yet classic comfort food recipe, sure to please even your pickiest family members! Perfect for busy days when a quick, satisfying meal is needed, this simple casserole requires no pre-planning as most ingredients may already be on hand in your pantry.
This creamy chicken and rice casserole is the ideal “dump and bake” recipe, perfect for busy cooks who appreciate ease. All the ingredients can be combined in one pan before being placed in the oven to be baked – perfect if your evening plans include relaxing while dinner cooks! All that remains for you to do? Kick back in your recliner while this dish cooks!
This easy chicken and rice casserole uses readily available ingredients that you probably already have at home. Enjoy this comforting dinner of rice, chicken, cheese and vegetables to boost nutrition and flavor – instead of using canned soups this casserole is made from scratch with pantry staples such as butter and flour for its rich and vibrant flavors – such as garlic onion powder thyme parsley for maximum taste and richness!
This comforting casserole features boneless skinless chicken thighs for optimal flavor and tenderness; however, chicken breasts may also work just as well! If that is what works for you!
2. Chicken Stuffing Casserole
This Chicken and Stuffing Casserole is the ultimate comfort food. A creamy chicken sauce combines with hearty herb-flavored stuffing for a mouthwatering meal, before being baked until perfect. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners! Make this casserole early by keeping it chilled until ready to bake; just be sure to add 5 extra minutes for baking due to being chilled before starting!
This recipe uses ingredients most people already have on hand to create an easy and tasty dinner option. All it requires are boneless skinless chicken thighs, Stove Top stuffing mix, cream of chicken soup and butter. Feel free to change up the type of condensed soup depending on what’s on hand; this dish makes an affordable family dinner that everyone will love.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray before layering your chicken thighs on the bottom and seasoning them with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup of butter over medium-high heat in a skillet before stirring in onion, celery, carrots, and flour and cooking for one additional minute before setting the casserole in the oven.
Pour the vegetable mixture over the chicken and spread evenly. Top this off with stuffing and gently press down to cover all the vegetables. Pour the chicken broth evenly over this topping before baking your casserole until golden brown and bubbly – serve alongside fresh salad and Cheddar Biscuits with Chive Butter as side dishes!
3. Chicken Bacon Mushroom Casserole
If you love chicken casserole recipes, this Creamy Mushroom Chicken dish will surely delight! Perfect for cold days and dinner parties alike, tender chicken breasts are coated in a creamy mushroom sauce flavored with white wine and crumbles of bacon for an irresistibly delicious dinner that can easily fit into weeknight meal plans or impress at dinner parties alike! Spoon this comforting casserole over pasta or potatoes but can also be served alongside a simple side salad as desired!
Start this chicken casserole off by seasoning chicken thighs with salt and pepper before dredging in flour to coat and pan-frying until golden brown. Transfer browned chicken pieces to an ovenproof skillet while simultaneously sauteing mushrooms, onion, garlic, broth and sherry in same pan until soft and fragrant – about 10-15 minutes total before stirring in flour mixture, chicken broth and sherry as the sauce thickens further.
Whisk the condensed cream, milk and thyme together before stirring them into the pasta and chicken. Although it seems like there will be too much liquid at first glance, most will absorb while baking and you should end up with an excellent dish! Pour your creation into an appropriate baking dish before topping with crisp bacon pieces for the finishing touch.
Cook the chicken bacon mushroom casserole for 40-45 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 F, before taking it out and letting it cool for 10 minutes before refrigerating before serving to family and friends. This meal makes an easy weeknight dinner that uses up any extra vegetables from your refrigerator like spinach, cauliflower or broccoli that have gone uneaten. For added flavour add grated Parmesan cheese as garnishing along with fresh thyme sprigs!
4. Chicken Marinara Casserole
This casserole is an easier version of traditional chicken parmesan, featuring shredded chicken breasts covered in pasta and marinara sauce for maximum flavour and crispy Panko breadcrumbs for that delicious crunch that mimics traditional parmasan.
Make this casserole ahead of time and bake later with ease! Simply boil the rigatoni pasta according to package directions before mixing with marinara sauce from a jar and stirring well. In another bowl, mix chicken pieces, diced tomatoes with seasoning and salt before layering evenly into your greased casserole dish before topping it all off with the cooked rigatoni pasta, cheeses and breadcrumb topping – then bake until bubbly with all cheese melted!
This dish is ideal for using leftover breaded or rotisserie chicken! The entire recipe can be prepared up to two days in advance, and freezes beautifully if you wish. Just ensure the pan is tightly wrapped with plastic wrap and aluminum foil as this will extend its shelf life by about one month and it can then be easily heated back up in the oven when desired.
Enjoy this cheesy and satisfying dish alone or serve it alongside Garlic Bread and Roasted Green Beans – it will please any classic Italian food lover! This recipe can easily be altered to meet dietary restrictions using gluten-free pasta and dairy-free cheeses.
5. Chicken Stuffing Casserole
This Chicken and Stuffing Casserole recipe makes an easy family dinner that requires minimal ingredients and time to assemble, perfect for family meal nights! Ready in under 30 minutes in either the oven or slow cooker – ideal for family get-togethers. Plus it works great as both.
Melt 4 Tbsp of butter over medium high heat in a large skillet and add the onion, carrots, and celery until they begin to soften, around 3 minutes. Stir in the flour for 1 minute while cooking continuously while slowly whisking in milk and broth until smooth; whisk in cream of chicken soup (including salt & pepper as needed ) as you continue whisking; bring back up to boil then remove from heat after mixing in sour cream & cheese shreddeds ( sour cream + cheese = creamy fillet). Spread chicken mixture evenly among 9x 13 baking dishes before topping it off with stuffing mix (overlapped).
Add an extra flavorful twist by switching out the sour cream for grated cheddar cheese for an added bite, and replacing cream of chicken soup with another type – cream of mushroom, celery or even homemade is great as an option! And to add even more nutrition, consider including diced broccoli as part of this delicious meal!
Casseroles make for an easy weeknight meal option! This chicken and stuffing casserole can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the fridge before baking – its comforting flavors will delight everyone at the table!
