Description
A comforting casserole layered with shredded chicken, black forest ham, and creamy Swiss cheese, topped with crispy Panko breadcrumbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 cups shredded chicken
- 9 ounces sliced deli-style black forest ham, cut into strips
- 8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 6 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread the shredded chicken evenly at the bottom of the dish.
- Layer the strips of black forest ham over the chicken.
- Place the Swiss cheese on top of the ham, overlapping the slices for full coverage.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter.
- Whisk in 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper.
- Add 6 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, whisking until it forms a thick paste.
- Gradually add in the whole milk, a quarter cup at a time, whisking to keep the mixture smooth.
- Simmer the sauce for about 4 minutes, whisking occasionally, until it thickens.
- Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the cheese layer.
- In a small bowl, mix the Panko breadcrumbs with the remaining 4 tablespoons of softened butter, then sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly and the Panko is golden.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving, garnishing with parsley if desired.
Notes
Feel free to customize with different cheeses or add vegetables like broccoli or spinach.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg