One thing I really hate is wasting food. I try very hard to make use of everything. It doesn't always work--I still occasionally find that half an avocado turning all shades of brown in the bottom of the produce drawer or a lemon that looks more like a lime or lettuce that's turning to slime. But I do try.
One day I found myself with a miscellaneous assortment of things I wanted to use up--some cooked chicken, a bit of cheddar cheese that wasn't going to last much longer, a bit of broccoli left because the whole head was too much for two people and a can of mushroom soup I bought for...???
Chicken Divan to the rescue! I actually found the recipe on the Campbell's Soup site. Yes, seriously. Of course I did tweak it. After all, I had that little bit of cream that needed to be used up. The amounts below are what was listed in the recipe--I didn't measure, I simply used what I had. The Campbell soup recipe called for bread crumbs on top but I skipped that. And bonus--this comes together in no time at all! I think you could easily tweak this--have mushrooms? Throw them in! No broccoli but you have peas? Go with it! Turkey instead of chicken? No problem!
4 cups broccoli florets
2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
1 can of cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup
1/3 cup milk (I used heavy cream)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Arrange chicken and broccoli in a baking dish.
Mix soup and milk or cream and pour over chicken and broccoli.
Top with cheddar cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top.
Enjoy!
"What absolute fun! Penned with wit, humor and style, MURDER, SHE REPORTED gets my definite, “Yes!”



This is one of a few ways I can get people to eat broccoli! My recipe includes mayo.
ReplyDeleteMy husband actually ate the broccoli in this and he doesn't like broccoli unless it comes with hollandaise!
DeleteI remember when my college roommate first introduced me to this dish. It is comfort food and, as you say, a good way to use leftovers. And for those who need to make it healthyish, it only takes a bit more effort to make something to substitute the canned cream of mushroom. This really brings back memories of a fun and busy time in my life.
ReplyDeleteMy father would not eat casseroles so my mother never made anything like this. I love discovering these delicious comfort foods I never had growing up.
ReplyDeleteI love how necessity gives way to creativity.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
I still have a Campbell Soup cookbook from the 70s a friend gave me. I think she saved labels and wound up with 2 cookbooks for her efforts! I'll bet this recipe is in there.
ReplyDelete