Granted, you can enjoy Seasonal Chicken Casserole in virtually any season. But there’s just something so charming and warming about enjoying a plate of it by a warm hearth as the snow falls outside. The hearty barley and savory chicken help each bite stick to your ribs, while the bright green beans and creamy white wine sauce keeps everything light and satisfying. And to top it off, there’s a crunchy cheese cracker crust for that extra texture and punch of flavor. This Seasonal Chicken Casserole knows what makes people happy when winter rears its head, and it’s ready to give it to you!
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 sweet onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, cut into pieces
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- kosher salt, to taste
- ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 3 cups pearl barley, cooked, about 1 cup uncooked
- 8 ounces green beans, steamed and chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped, plus more, optional, to taste, for garnish
- 1 cup cheese crackers, crumbled
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
Step 3 –In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter.
Step 4 –Add the onion and the garlic to the melted butter and cook, while stirring occasionally, until caramelized, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 5 –Whisk the flour into the onion mixture and cook, whisking occasionally, until the raw flour smell disappears, about 1 minute.
Step 6 –Gradually add the wine and the stock to the onion mixture, while whisking.
Step 7 –Bring the sauce mixture to a boil.
Step 8 –Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, while stirring occasionally, until the sauce mixture is thickened, about 4-6 minutes.
Step 9 –Add the cream cheese to the sauce mixture, one piece at a time, and whisk until smooth.
Step 10 –Add the parmesan cheese to the sauce mixture and whisk until smooth.
Step 11 –Season the sauce mixture with the salt and the pepper.
Step 12 –Add the chicken, the barley, the green beans, and 1/4 cup of the parsley to the sauce mixture and stir to combine.
Step 13 –Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 14 –In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining butter.
Step 15 –Add the cheese crackers to the melted butter and stir to coat.
Step 16 –Sprinkle the cracker mixture over the casserole.
Step 17 –Bake until golden and bubbly, about 15-18 minutes.
Step 18 –Serve hot, garnished with the extra parsley.
