Chicken Noodle Casserole

Contributed by: Jennifer F.

I adapted this recipe based on what we had on hand (from Food Network chef, Sandra Lee). Here is my way. It's delicious, seems healthy and makes a ton of GREAT leftovers.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 head of cauliflower
1/2 bag of baby Carrots
A couple stalks of Celery
3-3/12 tbsp flour
About 16oz Chicken Stock (or broth, whatever you prefer)
2 cooked chicken breasts (or equal to)
8-10 oz egg noodles (It's about 2/3 of a 12oz bag)
Handful of Parmesan cheese  (for topping)


Preheat oven to 350.


Spray a large oven-safe casserole dish, oven safe with cooking spray.


To cook the chicken, I boil the chicken for about 20-30 mins in a small pot, while I chop & saute the veggies. 


I cut the cauliflower into pretty small pieces, (bite size for toddlers, or "Brooklyn size"), then saute them over medium heat in the olive oil. Then I cut up the carrots pretty small too and toss them in the pan and the celery too. The 


Boil a pot of water for the egg noodles. Add drain when noodles are when ready.


Saute veggies until fairly soft. Then I add about 1/4 of a cup of chicken stock. Let that heat up, then slowly add the flour. Add a tablespoon at a time, stirring making sure all of the flour is absorbed (& cooked so you don'g get that starchy taste). Keep adding flour until you get a nice consistency. (You may not need all of the flour). It might seem thin, but it will thicken when it cools.


Once the chicken is done, cut or shred into small pieces and add to the sauce mixture.  Then add noodles & coat everything well. Pour into casserole dish and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Bake for about 20-25 minutes.


EDITORS NOTE:  yum!  Jennifer is my sister and I immediately tried this recipe when she shared it with me.  I made a few adjustments...sauted onions, and salt & pepper while cooking. Not only was it good and a comfort food..... but my picky 16 month old daughter loved it.  We'll definitely add this to our repertoire. What is great is that you can really change this up depending on your taste (or what you need to use up).


Here is a poor-quality pic I took with my cell:

Have you tried this?  What were your variations?


original source:  Sandra Lee - Chicken Noodle Casserole