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Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

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Warm, comforting and totally satisfying, chicken and mushroom casserole gets a healthy twist with whole wheat pasta, lean chicken breast and creamy plain yogurt.

Compared to the average family Midwestern family, we didn’t eat a ton of casseroles growing up. However, there are two casseroles my mom makes quite frequently that I inevitably crave when temperatures plummet: tuna noodle and chicken mushroom. Since we are in operation #Last10Pounds, I decided to give her recipes a nutritional face-lift by making a few changes:

  1. Swap Egg Noodles for Whole Wheat Bow-Ties: Egg noodles are totally delicious but essentially they are pure sugar. Whole wheat bow-ties are fun to eat and give the dish added protein, fiber and other minerals. These added nutrients help stabilize your blood sugar and helps prevent a post-casserole energy crash. 
  2. Skip the Canned Cream Soups: God bless Cream of Mushroom/Chicken/Celery soups but friends, making your own takes less than 10 minutes and is SO much more flavorful. Plus, you get to control the quality of ingredients when you make your own. I know those cans are cute and make you feel warm and fuzzy but don’t let clever marketing trick you into thinking you can’t make your own cream soups.
  3. Use Plain Low Fat Yogurt:  Technically, this isn’t a change from my mom’s recipe. She has always added plain yogurt to her casseroles for adding creaminess and a subtle tanginess that adds tons of flavor to the dish. Low fat plain yogurt is also high in protein, low in sugar and packed with calcium and other vitamins.

The end result? Ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness that takes nothing like health food. Jacob had 3 servings himself which is always a good sign.

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Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

Warm, comforting and totally satisfying, chicken and mushroom casserole gets a healthy twist with whole wheat pasta, lean chicken breast and creamy plain yogurt.
4.25 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: casserole
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 608kcal
Author: Liz DellaCroce

Ingredients

  • 1 pound whole wheat bow-ties or short pasta of choice
  • 1 tablespoon butter unsalted
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 2 teaspoons salt divided
  • 2 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 3 cups cooked chicken - diced rotisserie works well!
  • 32 ounces plain low fat yogurt
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup panko
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray.
  • Cook pasta according to package directions and set aside.
  • Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted. Stir in onion, celery and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Cook until softened, 3-4 minutes before adding garlic and mushrooms. Continue cooking until mushrooms are soft, 3-4 additional minutes.
  • Sprinkle flour into the pan and stir for 30-60 seconds or until flour is absorbed into the pan. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce thickens, 7-9 minutes.
  • In a large bowl, toss together cooked pasta with diced chicken, plain yogurt, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, half of the cheese (1 cup), lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Add in reduced mushroom sauce to the bowl and stir again.
  • Pour pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer.
  • In a small bowl, mix together remaining 1 cup cheese with panko and olive oil. Sprinkle mixture evenly on top of the casserole.
  • Bake until golden brown and bubbly, 45-50 minutes. Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving to let the casserole settle.
Nutrition Facts
Chicken and Mushroom Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 608 Calories from Fat 161
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17.9g 28%
Saturated Fat 8.1g 41%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 9.8g
Cholesterol 83mg 28%
Sodium 1334mg 56%
Total Carbohydrates 74.3g 25%
Dietary Fiber 9.3g 37%
Sugars 9.7g
Protein 43.7g 87%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Disclosure: I have been compensated for my time to create this recipe for ADA Mideast. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. As always, all thoughts are 100% my own. 

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Comments

  2. Why do you promote cows in cages ? Is there a reason you do not get your dairy from farms that do not keep there cows in cages?

    Reply

  4. This recipe looks and sounds delicious but when I saw the pictures of all those calves in separate enclosures I suddenly felt less enticed. Our love affair with milk and all of its derivations as well as beef, veal and other meats has really condemned these animals to a horrific life no matter how short or long it may be. Looking behind the scenes, or rather hearing about and seeing pictures and videos about it, gives me pause and makes me want to avoid it all or eat less and really appreciate that it is coming from an animal from whom it was taken. Can you find another way to make something that resembles the taste of this dish without using ingredients from animals? I would love to try that recipe. Thank you for creativity and sharing your recipes.

    Reply

    • Hi Erin – Thanks so much for writing. I’m a huge fan of learning about where our food comes from and my readers love learning about it as well but I apologize that it didn’t sit well with you. I’m afraid I can’t give you a recipe that doesn’t use ingredients from animals but if you google vegan blogs I bet you’ll find tons of great options!!

      Reply

      • This recipe sounds delicious! I want to make this today but am in a dilemma. My 9 x 13 glass dish broke so for now, I have a 11 x 7 glass dish. Would that be too small? I also have a round 2.5 quart ceramic baking dish. Which would substitute better, and if neither, then what other sizes may work? Thanks! :)

        Reply

  15. I would make this in a second – and I probably will very soon – but my husband HATES mushrooms. What would you use instead for the non-mushroom eaters in the family?
    I often use whole wheat bows in dishes like this for exactly the reasons you list. Our market actually carries whole wheat egg noodles so sometimes I use those, too. But the bows really are so cute, especially if you can find mini-bows. Do you ever use whole wheat panko? That has been one of my favorite finds.

    Reply

  16. It’s like a switch goes off in my head (and stomach) once winter rolls around — casseroles are instantly something I crave. Although I will admit, oftentimes they aren’t exactly healthy. Love this lightened up guy, all the flavor minus the fat!

    Reply

  26. I grew up with the QUEEN of casseroles…at least in Iowa. I have no idea how I wasn’t 10,000 lbs growing up. Love this healthier alternative…I’ll have to send it her way, too! :) Congrats, again, on the last 10 lbs! I’ve been watching your progress…truly inspirational!

    Reply

  29. This looks like the perfect comfort food (but lightened up, thank goodness!) My family doesn’t like mushrooms, so that means I get to make this just for me, right? I love the program that the dairy foundation is doing this holiday season. It’s so needed!

    Reply

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