Valentina Ablaev
A classic chicken and potato casserole that makes the perfect one-pan comfort meal. The casserole is layered with tender potatoes, juicy chicken, baked in a creamy sauce, and melted cheese. This chicken and potato casserole is the perfect weeknight meal or cozy Sunday dinner.
This cheesy chicken casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner that comes together in just one dish! The casserole has everything you need for a complete meal. Tender potatoes, juicy chicken in a rich sauce, topped with cheese, hearty and so delicious.
Comfort Meals for Days
We love cozy comfort meals that come together in just one dish! Our creamy chicken and rice is the perfect way to make a one-pan rice dish, and you can never go wrong with a creamy chicken and mushroom casserole!
Why You’ll Love This Casserole Recipe
- Make-ahead. This recipe is the perfect meal to prep in advance and bake when you’re ready to serve! Great for those busy days when you need something you can throw in the oven and have on the dinner table fast!
- One-pan meal. Everything cooks in just one casserole dish, meaning little to no prep and fewer dishes to wash.
- Comforting flavors. Who doesn’t love potatoes, chicken, and cheese? This dish packs it all!
- Customizable. Spruce up this casserole by adding more veggies or playing around with the flavors! This is the perfect recipe to experiment with and make your own!
What Kind of Potatoes are Best for Casserole?
Russet potatoes will give you a light and fluffy finish, while golden potatoes result in a buttery, creamy texture. Both are delicious and make for a great casserole!
Ingredients for Chicken and Potato Casserole
Everything you need to make a chicken and potato casserole from scratch:
- Chicken – Chicken thighs make the perfect protein for this casserole.
- Milk – A mix of cream, milk, and mayo keeps the casserole juicy and rich.
- Veggies – Adding onions and carrots adds so much flavor to this casserole.
- Potatoes – We use russet potatoes for this recipe, but you can swap them with Yukon gold potatoes for a tasty variation.
- Cheese – Your favorite shredded cheese or whatever you have on hand will do!
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations for Cheesy Chicken Casserole
- Add bacon. Add crispy bacon to the mix for a smoky flavor.
- Cheese. Play around with different cheeses for a great flavor.
- Spice it up. Make the casserole spicy with red pepper flakes or jalapenos.
- Add vegetables. Bulk up this casserole with mushrooms, broccoli, and red bell peppers.
Can I Use Chicken Breast?
Chicken thighs are best for a homemade casserole because they stay juicy throughout the long baking process. However, if you would like to use chicken breast, you can make a lean, low-calorie casserole. For the best results, cut the chicken breast into thicker pieces so that they don’t dry out as fast.
Tools for this Recipe
Shop all of Valentina’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and kitchen must-haves!
- A mandolin makes the prep for this recipe super easy, giving you thin slices of vegetables and potatoes in a fraction of the time.
- A 9×13 casserole dish is the perfect size to hold all of the ingredients and bake up this casserole.
How to Cook Chicken and Potato Casserole (Step-by-Step)
Learning how to make chicken and potato casserole is simple:
- Prep chicken. Trim the excess fat from the chicken, cut it into strips, and set aside.
2. Sauce. In a bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, milk, and mayo, and set aside.
3. Prep veggies. Finely chop the onion and slice the carrots thinly on a mandolin.
4. Potatoes. Slice the potatoes into thin pieces, using a mandolin. Rinse the potatoes under cold water and pat dry.
5. Assemble. Add the onions and potatoes to the bottom of a baking dish and garnish with fresh herbs.
6. Carrots. Spread the carrots on top of the potatoes.
7. Chicken. Layer the chicken over teh casserole. Evenly spread the butter, and pour the milk mixture over all the ingredients.
8. Bake. Top everything with shredded cheese and cover tightly with foil. Bake in the oven at 400°F for 60-90 minutes, checking the potatoes for doneness.
Expert Tips:
Everything you need to know to make the perfect chicken and potato casserole:
- Season in layers. Seasoning this casserole in layers is a great way to ensure there is flavor in every bite.
- How to know if the casserole is cooked through? Once the potatoes are fork-tender, you’ll know that the casserole is done.
- Crispy top. An optional step: if you love bubbling, crispy cheese, broil your oven for 2 minutes after the casserole is done baking. This allows the cheese to turn golden brown and crispy.
FAQs
We love using chicken thighs because they stay juicy during the long baking process. However, you can use chicken breasts instead for a leaner dish.
To keep the potatoes from drying out, you’ll want to cover the casserole with foil. This traps hot air, cooking everything through.
Thinly slicing them allows them to cook fully in the oven.
Adding vegetables makes this casserole healthier and more filling! Broccoli, mushrooms, and bell peppers all make great additions.
Serving Suggestions
- Side salad: A light cucumber-and-tomato salad is the perfect side to the dish.
- Light starter: Serve this casserole with a caprese canape for a light, refreshing bite.
- Veggie side dish: Get your greens in with crispy air-fried asparagus.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Keep leftover casserole tightly covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Warm up the casserole on the stovetop or in the oven until melted and warmed through.
- Freeze. Leftovers are great to freeze for longer storage! Add the cooled casserole to the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat: Warm in a pan or in the oven until warmed through.
More Comfort Recipes
If you enjoyed this chicken and potato casserole recipe, be sure to try our other casserole recipes; here are some of our favorites:
Casseroles- Casseroles
- Potatoes
- Veggies
- Grains and Pasta
- Casseroles
- Grains and Pasta
- Casseroles
If you tried this chicken and potato casserole recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Chicken and Potato Casserole Recipe (Easy One-Pan Meal)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken thighs boneless skinless
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 1/4 cup milk
- 2 Tbsp mayo
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1/2 small onion diced fine
- 1 carrot sliced
- 2 1/2 lbs potatoes sliced
- 2 Tbsp fresh herbs
- 4 Tbsp butter sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Trim the excess fat from the chicken and cut it into thin strands. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
- In a bowl, whisk together heavy cream, milk, mayo, salt, and pepper.
- Finely chop the onion and slice the carrots thinly on a mandolin.
- Slice the potatoes into thin pieces, using a mandolin. Rinse the potatoes under cold water and pat dry.
- Combine the onions and potatoes in a bowl, and season to taste.
- Add the onions and potatoes to the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish and top with fresh herbs.
- Add the carrots over the potatoes and then layer the chicken on top.
- Evenly spread the sliced butter, then pour the milk mixture over all the ingredients.
- Garnish with shredded cheese and cover the dish tightly with foil.
- Bake in the oven at 400°F for 60-90 minutes, checking the potatoes for doneness.
- Garnish the dish with fresh herbs before serving.
Notes
- Season in layers. Add seasoning at each step of assembling the casserole to ensure every bite is well-balanced and flavorful.
- How do you know the casserole is done? The casserole is ready when the potatoes are fork-tender and easily pierced with a fork.
- Storage. Store leftover casserole tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Rewarm the casserole on the stovetop or in the oven until heated through, and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Freeze. This casserole freezes well for longer storage. Let it cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Warm in a skillet or bake in the oven until fully heated through.
