Winter Dish Casserole Bake (Printable)
Hearty bake with chicken and winter vegetables in a rich, creamy herb sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein
01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed
03 - 2 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
04 - 1 cup carrots, sliced
05 - 1 cup parsnips, sliced
06 - 1 cup leeks, cleaned and sliced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
08 - 1 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 2 tbsp cornstarch
12 - 1 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
14 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1 tsp kosher salt
→ Topping
16 - 1 cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese
17 - ½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
18 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or a small amount of oil.
02 - In a large bowl, toss chicken pieces, squash, Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, leeks, and garlic together until evenly distributed. Spread mixture in the prepared casserole dish.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, cornstarch, thyme, rosemary, pepper, and salt until smooth and completely combined.
04 - Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring all pieces are coated.
05 - In a small bowl, combine cheese, breadcrumbs, and olive oil. Mix until the crumbs are evenly coated with oil.
06 - Sprinkle topping mixture evenly over the casserole. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
07 - Remove foil and continue baking for 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender, chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F), and topping is golden brown and crispy.
08 - Let casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The creamy herb sauce ties everything together without overwhelming the vegetables
- You can prep it in advance and just pop it in the oven when everyone arrives
- Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day
02 -
- The cornstach needs to be whisked thoroughly into the cold liquids before heating
- Don't skip the resting time or the sauce will be too runny when you serve it
03 -
- Cut all vegetables to similar sizes so they finish cooking at the same time
- Use freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor