Chicken and Stuffing Casserole Recipe

Think of this chicken and stuffing casserole as a marriage between classic holiday dressing and creamy chicken pot pie. Now that’s a match made in heaven! This chicken dinner is made with store-bought stuffing mix that gets beautifully golden and crunchy on top while the casserole bakes in the oven. The boxed stuffing mix is a big time saver! Speaking of time savers, if you don’t have cooked chicken on hand, just grab a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket. 

Do you cook the stuffing before adding it to the casserole?

Nope, but you do hydrate it with some chicken broth before adding on top of the chicken mixture. When baked, it becomes a golden and crunchy topping. 

Can you use leftover stuffing in this casserole?

Yes! If you have stuffing or dressing leftover from Thanksgiving, this casserole is the perfect way to use it up. Simply skip the box of stuffing mix, along with the 1/2 cup of butter, two cups of chicken broth, and 1/4 cup of chopped parsley that the recipe calls for mixing with it. Instead, spread two cups of leftover stuffing over the chicken mixture and bake as directed.

Can you put raw chicken in a casserole?

You’ll want to start with shredded, cooked chicken for this and most chicken casseroles. Starting with raw chicken would mean you’d have to up the bake time significantly! The easiest way to get cooked chicken? Buy a rotisserie chicken on your next supermarket run and shred it up. 

What’s the difference between stuffing and dressing?

The stuffing versus dressing question is a yearly hot topic at many Thanksgiving tables. Originally, the only difference between the two was that stuffing was stuffed inside the turkey, while dressing was cooked separately. Now, most recipes skip stuffing the bird. Whether you call it stuffing or dressing often just depends on where you grew up and what your family called it. At least everyone can agree that it’s delicious!  

How do you make stuffing more moist?

The key to a moist, tender stuffing is to give the bread cubes a couple of minutes to absorb the liquid before baking. A short soak is just long enough to soften the bread without making it too wet, so the stuffing won’t be too dry or too soggy. This goes for a stand-alone side dish and the topper in this casserole.

How long does chicken and stuffing casserole last in the fridge?

Covered tightly or stored in an airtight container, baked chicken and stuffing casserole will stay good for up to three days. Reheat larger portions in a 350-degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. Smaller portions can be reheated in the microwave for about 30 seconds.