Description
A delightful and hearty dish combining shredded chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese, topped with a creamy sauce and crispy breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups shredded chicken
- 9 ounces sliced deli-style black forest ham, cut into strips
- 8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread 5 cups of shredded chicken into the baking dish.
- Layer 9 ounces of sliced deli-style black forest ham over the chicken.
- Follow with 8 ounces of sliced Swiss cheese, overlapping the slices to fit in the dish.
- Melt 6 Tablespoons of unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in 1 Tablespoon of Dijon mustard, 1 Tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice (if using), 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg (if using), and ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (if using).
- Add 6 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour, whisking until a paste forms.
- Pour in 3 cups of whole milk gradually, whisking until smooth and simmer for about 4 minutes until thickened.
- Pour the creamy sauce over the cheese layer, spreading evenly.
- Combine 1½ cups of Panko breadcrumbs with 4 Tablespoons of softened unsalted butter in a small bowl.
- Spread the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes until bubbling and golden brown on top.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before serving and sprinkle with chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
For a lighter version, replace the black forest ham with turkey. Consider adding steamed broccoli or spinach for additional nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken, casserole, comfort food, baked chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal