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Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole

So, when I was in college I didn't really care that processed foods were bad for you; I just knew that they were quick and easy (and at that time, I also thought they were cheaper because I didn't have a pantry with everyday staples in it!) One of my favorite boxed foods was Chicken Helper (and sadly, one of DHs favorite foods STILL is Hamburger Helper). Regardless of how bad it is for you I still crave it when I pass it in the aisle at the grocery store; however, thankfully in St. Louis I've never seen the kind I liked in college: 4-Cheese Chicken Helper (or something like that!)

I decided over the weekend to try to make my own version of it. I mean, it's basically just egg noodles, cheese and chicken! I looked online for recipes and couldn't really find any that didn't use cream soups (which I now know not everyone uses!) so I had to make my own (which is not my strongest skill!) PLUS, I used a new "technique" that I've never tried before... a bechamel sauce that I melted cheese in to... not sure if this was the best way to make what I was going for but I think it turned out really well!

Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
2 b/s chicken breasts, cut in to 1-inch cubes
EVOO
8oz egg noodles
3 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1 Cup milk
~3/4 Cup Shredded or Cubed Cheddar Cheese
~1/2 Cup Shredded or Cubed Swiss Cheese
Handful of breadcrumbs
S&P to season
Directions
- preheat oven to 350
- cook noodles in large pot
- heat EVOO in skillet while cubing chicken
- sautee chicken until no longer pink inside (set aside while noodles boil and making sauce)
- in a sauce pan, melt butter
- add in flour and cook a few minutes
- whisk in milk slowly
- simmer sauce a few minutes
- add in cheese and stir well to melt cheese in to a sauce
- once sauce is finished and noodles are done, add in to skillet with chicken
- mix well and put in oven safe casserole dish (if you don't have oven safe cookware, or if you want to use a dish like me!)
- top with bread crumbs
- bake at 350 for ~ 30 minutes or until bubbly
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Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 30, 2013 at 5:53 PM

    Does it taste like the chicken helper? That was one of my daughter's favorites and they discontinued it!:(

    ReplyDelete
  2. AngieJanuary 31, 2013 at 9:31 AM

    Hi Jess, I actually haven't made this in awhile so thank you for finding it and reminding me it's out there! I wouldn't say it tastes exactly like Chicken Helper, but it is definitely a good version of something similar. It is creamy, just like Chicken Helper, which is definitely what I was going for. I think next time I make it I may use a blend of White Cheddar and Gruyere, my current faves!

    ReplyDelete

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