Why I Finally Embraced Mom’s Uncool but Beloved Casserole

Key Takeaways

• Mother's casserole might lack fancy additions or an impressive look, yet it serves as a soothing meal suitable for all events.
• This chicken casserole is a classic favorite that remains tasty and simple to multiply every time.
• Making substitutions is straightforward when you lack the necessary components.

I find myself surprisingly bashful about sharing this—even though I’m confessing it publicly—I needed to reach out to my elder sibling via a text message just to recall some dishes from our mother’s repertoire. “Hey! Could you help me with something quick? Which of Mom’s recipes do you often prepare?” Salmon croquettes "Ha ha ha. [nervous face emoji] Can you message me back?" My sister outshines me when it comes to cooking—she’s definitely more skilled and frequent at it. While she resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, crafting traditional Southern cuisine, my attempts here in New York City often lack those authentic touches due to the difficulty of finding essential items such as grits. Her reply echoed my thoughts: "Hmm... It seems like Mom concentrates on appetizers and desserts I often prepare mushroom turnovers and fudge pie for her."

Here's one possible way to rephrase this: To be honest, my father stood out as the most notable chef in our household. While he may not have prepared dinners every single evening, it was my mother who typically took charge of those cooking duties. meatloaf And burgers as well, indeed, salmon croquettes—which contained the crispy bits from canned salmon bones tucked inside—were common for most dinners. However, my father prepared the more exciting dishes. If he tried something new at a restaurant, he’d replicate it at home; such as the unusual huevos rancheros we enjoyed during an 8th or 9th birthday ski vacation which he later served every Saturday morning until nobody could stand it anymore. Occasionally, he even flambeed his creations. bananas Foster At our kitchen island, allowing one of us kids to ignite the rum. The pork tenderloin with shallot-apricot glaze that I prepare frequently? That’s Dad's. Leftover spaghetti frittata? Also Dad's creation. Even a straightforward corn and scrambled eggs dish which I currently offer to my children... yep, still his recipe.

Mom's Signature Dish

Nevertheless, what my sister and I both understood—and ultimately agreed upon after our discussion—was that there is one dish that stands out as my mom's specialty: her chicken casserole It’s definitely not considered cool. Nothing gets set on fire here. However, it’s exceptionally good. This dessert represents one of my mother’s finest and most virtuous traits in a 9-by-13 format. When I contacted her to ensure I had the latest variation—following a friend’s daughter who incorporated a bit of white wine into it for a wedding back in 2010—she promptly added this adjustment with pencil. First, she remarked, “That is absolutely my top pick. A fantastic recipe.” Afterward, she mentioned, “Doubling the quantity gives you enough for four casseroles; they freeze wonderfully. Just last week, I delivered one to Joyce, as well as to Dianne and Kay.”

Related: 47 Simple Freezer Meals That Heat Up Perfectly

Joyce, Dianne, and Kay are among my mother's dearest and longest-standing companions. Each one has overcome significant challenges such as battling cancer, losing their spouses, and living through polio. Whenever life gets tough for her—be it during solitude, difficult times, or after someone undergoes heart surgery—my mom often prepares a comforting chicken casserole. There’s nothing overly complex about this dish; casseroles Are the go-to solution when someone falls ill or welcomes a newborn. Yet, she accomplishes this task seamlessly and selflessly. Reflecting on these moments, I picture her in the kitchen late at night, putting together a chicken casserole even though she’s already tidied up once before. She licks the mayo off a spatula as she works. Without any particular occasion, she delivers meals to others, and if she’s heading down to her hometown of Ripley, Mississippi, to visit her lifelong buddy, she’ll phone me along the way. “I’m picking up a chicken casserole for Pat,” she might say, “so she won’t have to worry about cooking. Then we just crack open a bottle of Prosecco.”

Make-And Take Favorites

I belong to a moms' group in New York, and we arrange meal deliveries whenever someone welcomes a newborn. This concept is particularly innovative in Manhattan, especially for mothers unfamiliar with casseroles. Once, we had a member who was aware of several Southern members within our group and mentioned politely during her third child’s birth that she would prefer avoiding “dishes made primarily using canned soup.” Thus, for years, I steered clear of unpopular options like classic chicken casserole and opted instead for alternatives such as butternut squash enchiladas—or something equally elaborate. chicken chili That begins with dry beans. My mom knows better. She has a recipe that she can whip up in her sleep, allowing her to be a more generous provider.

The Enchantment of Mom's Casserole

Lately, I've grown fond of the uncool chicken casserole. What makes this dish special is the allure of its recipe, regardless of any casserole To be frank, this dish remains consistently tasty regardless of how strictly you adhere to the recipe. Last time around, I omitted the almonds—something I used to do when I was younger—and found myself short on mayo. Additionally, I added the uncooled rice right away and wasn’t entirely clear about “1 to 2 cups of crushed cornflakes,” so I just threw in two cups (which would probably work best for others too). It turned out precisely as desired: neither overly moist nor dry, and superbly flavored despite the absence of salt and pepper per the instructions. Doubling the batch isn't necessary unless one has access to “those large” cooking utensils, says my mother. rotisserie chickens From Costco, which isn’t readily available near where I live. My spouse visited two different grocery shops only to locate cream of mushroom soup. However, next time, I’ll follow my mom’s lead and prepare an extra dish for someone who could use a respite from cooking—a hearty casserole enriched with some white wine goes perfectly well. This meal freezes wonderfully.

Ways to Prepare My Mother's Chicken Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

Recipe notes: Makes 6 servings (each serving is 1 cup); Prep time 10 min. | Cook time 40 min. Total time 50 min.

• 2 cups of diced roasted chicken
• 1 cup of steamed white long-grain rice
• 1 (10.5-ounce) can of cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup of unsalted butter, split into parts
• 1/2 cup diced celery (approximately 3 stalks)
• 4 ounces of finely chopped fresh mushrooms
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp. grated onion
• 1 cup of broken cornflake cereal
• 1/2 cup of roasted sliced almonds

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Combine the chicken, rice, and soup in a big bowl. Then set it aside.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the celery and mushrooms, cooking them while frequently stirring until they become tender, which should take around 5 minutes. Mix this cooked vegetable combination with your chicken. Then stir in the mayonnaise, chicken broth, lemon juice, and grated onion. Transfer this entire mixture into an 11-by-7-inch baking dish for further cooking.
3. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a microwave-safe bowl on HIGH until it melts, which should take around 20 seconds. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cornflakes with the almonds and the melted butter. Then scatter this mixture evenly over the chicken combination.
4. Cook in the preheated oven until it turns golden brown and becomes bubbling hot, which should take around 40 minutes. Enjoy it right away.

Read the initial article on Southern Living