Quick Fix Chicken Casserole with Country Crock! #quickfixcasseroles

One of my favorite things to cook is a casserole. Why? Well, casseroles are usually one dish meals and are easy to make. They also provide a good hearty meal that can feed quite a few people. Plus, you can make a great meal and not spend a lot of money.

I usually end up making casseroles because I need a quick dinner and I have random ingredients in the fridge or pantry. I call it willy nilly cooking, I come home and know I have to make dinner so I look around and grab whatever ingredients I have and throw them into a casserole. It's not gourmet cuisine but I know it will always be filling and tasty.

The other day I did the same thing. I had been out all day and needed a quick dinner. I looked in my fridge and pantry and found the following ingredients: chicken, asparagus, mushrooms, almonds, pasta, cheese and Country Crock.

I knew I had the beginnings of a great casserole. I took the chicken and browned it and cut it up. Then I sauteed the asparagus, mushrooms and almonds in some Country Crock Spread. I cooked up some pasta. Then I made my world famous, okay just famous in my house, cheese sauce.

My cheese sauce is made by making a roux. Then I add a cup of beer and a cup of milk or cream to make the sauce. I add salt, pepper, mustard powder, onion powder and garlic powder. Then I add cheese. I had some Parmesan and Gruyere cheese, so I used that. The makes the base for the casserole. Of course, you can use any type of cheese you like.

Then I put together the casserole. I layered the pasta, chicken, veggies in a casserole dish and then added the cheese sauce. I let it bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes. Twenty five minutes into the the process I added some bread crumbs that I had browned in some Country Crock Original Spread to the top of the casserole. So it would brown up nicely.

With Country Crock, I had a healthier dish because each serving had 0g trans fat per serving. Plus it has 30% fewer calories than butter and no cholesterol. That is important to me these days since I am trying to slim down, just a little bit.

An hour later, I had a very hearty and delicious casserole ready in under an hour. What I liked about this recipe I created was that the creamy sauce really went well with the veggies and chicken. I could have easily left out the chicken for a vegetarian dish. I could have also used different type of vegetables as well.

Hubby loved this casserole. So did I. It also goes to prove that you do not have to plan too much when you make a casserole. With a few ingredients in your pantry or fridge, you can have a healthy and delicious meal in no time flat. Plus, there were plenty of leftovers for the next day as well. With Fall just right around the corner, I know I will be making more quick fix casseroles because they are the perfect ending to those hectic days! Serve with salad and some hearty bread and your family will thank you!


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.