This cozy Overnight Chicken Hot Dish is a vintage casserole recipe featuring tender chicken or turkey, creamy mushroom soup, and crisp vegetables. Mixed with rice and mayonnaise for a creamy, savory base, it’s refrigerated overnight to deepen the flavor, then baked to bubbly perfection under a golden topping of cornflakes and sliced almonds. Perfect for make-ahead dinners or potluck gatherings, it captures the spirit of mid-century American home cooking, simple, satisfying, and deliciously nostalgic.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken (chopped & cooked, or turkey)
- 10½ oz cream of mushroom soup (1 can)
- 1 cup celery (finely chopped )
- 1 tsp diced onion
- 2 cups rice (cooked )
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- crushed cornflakes (for topping)
- sliced almonds (for topping)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
- Chop the cooked chicken or turkey. Finely dice the celery and onion. Cook rice if not already prepared.
Step 2: Mix Casserole Base
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken or turkey, cream of mushroom soup, celery, onion, rice, lemon juice, white pepper, and mayonnaise.
Step 3: Refrigerate Overnight
- Spread the mixture evenly in a shallow 8×10½ inch baking dish.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Bake the Dish
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Top the casserole with crushed cornflakes and sliced almonds.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Tips
- Substitute cooked turkey for chicken to use holiday leftovers
- Use brown rice for a heartier, nuttier texture
- Add sautéed mushrooms for extra depth of flavor
- Mix crushed cornflakes with a little melted butter for a richer topping
- Add a pinch of paprika or poultry seasoning for warmth
- Swap almonds for crushed walnuts or omit nuts entirely
- Assemble up to 24 hours ahead for stress-free entertaining
- Double the recipe for potlucks and bake in a 9×13-inch dish
Nutrition
Calories: 798kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 5gFat: 68gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20gMonounsaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 410mgPotassium: 139mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 70IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg
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