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–+ servings
Overnight Chicken Hot Dish from Pauline Jorgenson
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.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Refrigeration Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 798 kcal

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 8x10½ 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
Keyword baked casserole, comfort food, creamy chicken, family meal, make-ahead dinner, retro recipe, vintage casserole
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