Creamy Chicken And Broccoli Casserole

This chicken broccoli casserole will definitely satisfy a craving for comfort food.  It’s easy to make, and the cream cheese and sour cream make it so rich and creamy.  It’s also super easy to modify – you can add any other vegetables you want.

Ingredients:

• broccoli florets - about 3 cups
• olive oil - 1 tbsp
• butter - 1 tbsp
• chicken breast - 1 pound (500 g), sliced and cubed
• salt and pepper - generous amount
• garlic powder - generous amount
• onion - 1 medium white or red, diced
• garlic - 3 cloves, minced
• crimini mushrooms - about 2 cups, quartered
• dry white wine - 1/2 cup
• chicken stock - 1 cup
• sour cream - 1 cup
• flour - 1 tbsp
• cream cheese - 1 8 oz (200 g) package
• croutons - about a cup, crushed

Directions:

• Pre heat oven to 375 F (190 C).

• Steam the broccoli florets until just under tender and place them in the bottom of a greased casserole dish.

• Heat  the olive oil and butter  in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium high heat,  then add the chicken, sprinkle generously with salt, pepper and garlic powder, then cook until done - stir frequently and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet.

• Using a strainer, remove the cooked chicken from the pan and arrange it in the dish with the broccoli.

• Leave the liquid in the pan and lower the heat a little, add the diced onion, sprinkle it  with salt and pepper, and cook for about 3 minutes, or until beginning to brown.

• Add the garlic and continue cooking for about 2 more minutes.

• Increase the heat to medium high, add the mushrooms and cook until they have released most of their liquid, about 5 - 6 minutes.

• Increase heat to high, then pour in the wine, and boil until the liquid reduces by about half, about 3 minutes.

• Using a fork, whisk the flour, cream cheese, sour cream and stock together until blended, then stir into the sauce and simmer until it begins to thicken, about 3 - 5 minutes.

• Pour the sauce over the chicken and broccoli, and bake in the oven about 25 - 30 minutes.

• Sprinkle the croutons bits over the top about 10 minutes before the casserole is done.

• This goes really well with a heartier grain like wild or brown rice or whole-wheat  pasta - although it's also very good by itself with a nice crusty bread.

Source:  comfortablefood.com