Chicken and Mushroom Casserole with Biscuits

Chicken I'll take any time of the year any how any old way but it's not always the case with mushrooms. Sometimes I like 'em, some times I don't but last night in combination with chicken, onions and a touch of bacon, those darn mushrooms were fantastic.

A couple of rashers of bacon started the whole story off. Cooked until crisp, it hit the casserole dish followed by skinless boneless chicken thighs, dredged in flour, browned then braised quickly in a little stock, followed by onions, lots of mushrooms and some chicken herbs - you know the ones I mean? Chicken can handle almost any herbs, spices and flavors, but the traditional ones are thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram and savory - most of which are ingredients common to "poultry seasoning" available in your market's spice aisle. Finished with a little stock and some whole milk thickened with flour into a nice gravy, the casserole was all ready for the oven in a little over 30 minutes.

Topped with your favorite biscuit dough and given another 35 minutes in the oven, you'll have a meal fit for royalty, I promise you. We rounded our plates out with a baked potato and some pan roasted Brussels sprouts. It's our new favorite veggie.

Now - you know how I breezed over the "stock" as I was describing the ingredients in the casserole? Well I hate to brag (we all know I don't really) but the stock I used was of the homemade turkey variety that I whipped up a few weeks ago and stored in the freezer. It makes all the difference in the world for something that's incredibly easy to make so when you've a minute, please roast some bones in the oven with a little onion, celery, and carrots for an hour at 475 degrees, then move it all to the top of the stove with some water and let it brew for another hour. Strain it and freeze it in cup containers and it'll be the best investment you'll make in a long time! There's no comparison in flavor versus the store bought variety AND you can control the amount of salt that goes into it too.

Chicken & Mushroom Casserole with Biscuits (from JBug’s Kitchen)

 2 slices bacon, cut into small pieces

3 skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into bite sized pieces

1/4 cup flour

Salt & pepper

1/3 cup chicken or turkey stock preferably homemade, PLUS 1 cup

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pound mushrooms, sliced

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1/2 teaspoon savory

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup whole milk

Favorite biscuit recipe

Cook bacon until crisp over medium high heat in a large skillet. Move to a 9 inch casserole dish, leaving drippings in the skillet. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, dredge in flour and cook in bacon drippings in skillet until well browned – about 10 minutes. Add 1/3 cup stock, cover pan and cook additional 5 minutes or until chicken is just cooked through. Move chicken to casserole dish.

Preheat oven to 375. Heat butter and oil in large skillet. Add onion, mushrooms, poultry seasoning, savory and thyme. Cook until onion is soft and all liquid from mushrooms has evaporated – about 10 minutes. Sprinkle flour on top of onion/mushroom mixture and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add one cup stock plus whole milk. Cook stirring until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Transfer to casserole dish and stir to mix ingredients well. Top with biscuits. Bake for 35 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown and casserole is bubbling. Serves 4.

 

Comments

[Nanan]

yummy - nummy - this is my kind of dish!!!!!

[June]

Mine too Lea! Nothing beats chicken with gravy!

[Mags]

Wow... I was just sitting here thinking of how I need to get started on making my turkey stock for Thanksgiving. I bet I go through a couple gallons of it until all is said and done.

You cluck and biscuits looks delish. I'd have to used the canned variety (aren't they GRAND) because I'm biscuit compromised.

[June]

Mags - I love having stock on hand! Canned biscuits would work just wonderful, as does Bisquick! By the way, the green flecks in the biscuits is chopped chives. Yum.