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15 easy one-dish meals for weeknight dinners

Low on fuss and high in flavor, most of easy-to-assemble meals take less than 45 minutes from the time you begin food prep until you deliver a hot dish on the table. Our Stir It Up! bloggers love these kinds of meals. Here are a few of our favorites.

5. One-dish chicken casserole

The Runaway Spoon
This chicken casserole topped with buttery crackers is a good use of leftover chicken. Celery seeds add extra flavor.

By Perre Coleman Magness, The Runaway Spoon

Serves 6

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2cups whole milk
3/4 cup buttermilk
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 cup crushed buttery crackers (I like Ritz)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 2 quart baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Melt the butter over medium heat in a deep skillet large enough to hold the chicken. Whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the milk, whisking constantly, then the buttermilk, and bring to a low bubble. Cook, whisking, until thickened. The sauce may appear a little curdled, but that’s just fine. Stir in the chicken, the sour cream and the vinegar until combined, then stir in the celery seeds. Taste and then add salt and pepper as needed.

3. Scrape the chicken into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Spread the cracker crumbs in an even layer over the casserole. At this point, the dish can be cooked covered and refrigerated for up to a day before baking.

4. Bake the casserole until hot through and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes.

Notes: You can cook three chicken breasts to make this casserole. Place them in a baking dish and cover with foil, Bake for 20 – 30 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Read the full post on Stir It Up!

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