Chic Casserole Creations

During a recent laughable conversation with my husband, I told him I needed to make a casserole for a family friend that just had a baby.  His response was, “You don’t make casseroles.”  I wasn’t sure how to take this and I explained to him he doesn’t even know the definition of a casserole.  Then after some thought I wasn’t sure if I did either.

So hence my quest began.  Or at least my Internet and cookbook search to learn all about casseroles and create a casserole recipe to make for my friend.  As well as find quick and easy casserole recipes that my family would like.

Sharon Tyler Herbst provides the following definition of a “casserole” in the book, “Food Lover’s Companion.”

Casserole:  This term refers to both a baking dish and the ingredients in it.  Casserole cookery is convenient because the ingredients are cooked and served in the same dish.  A “casserole dish” usually refers to a deep, round, oven-proof container.  It can be glass, metal, ceramic, or any other heatproof material.  A casserole’s ingredient can include meat, vegetables, beans, rice and anything else that might seem appropriate.  Often topped with cheese or bread crumbs to add texture and flavor.

My investigation also revealed that casseroles first gained popularity in the U.S. in the 1950s and according to one source by the 1970s casseroles took on a less than sophisticated image.  I believe casseroles have come a long way since the ’70s and they don’t have to be drab and heavy.  To put a new spin on old casserole dishes, add fresh vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and try substituting higher fat ingredients with reduced fat options.

Below is the casserole I ended up making for my friend.  I created this casserole with ingredients I already had at home.  Thankfully it turned out well with very little effort and even my son said it was yummy.

Penne-role

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta
1 large can or bag fully cooked chicken breast***
1 jar (26 ounces) spaghetti sauce
1 cup broccoli, trimmed and chopped
1 cup tomatoes, chopped
1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.  Cook pasta according to package directions.
2.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
3.  Mix cooked pasta, chicken, spaghetti sauce, broccoli and tomatoes.
4.  Top with mozzarella cheese.
5.  Bake 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly brown

***Canned or bagged fully cooked chicken breasts are one of my must have staple foods.  Canned chicken saves so much time.  Visit Swanson’s casserole web page to find some tasty recipes using canned/bagged chicken breasts.  I’ve made the Fiesta Chicken Casserole and Chicken Pot Pie recipes, which were both very good.

Check out more casserole recipes at:

Allrecipes.com Casserole Recipes
Myrecipes.com Casserole Recipes

Email me your favorite casserole recipes (and picture if able) to clsmiller@unl.edu and I’ll share them on our blog.