The Easy Addition That Will Amp Up The Flavor Of Noodle Casserole
A casserole is the ultimate comfort food dish — the perfect meal to make when you have a lot of mouths to feed or need a quick weeknight meal — and one of the most iconic casseroles is tuna noodle casserole. This dish has been a staple since the 1950s due to its ease to make and its utilization of canned and pre-cooked ingredients.
Nowadays, there are millions of casserole recipes to delight every possible taste and it's no longer relegated to simply meat and cheese. If you're in the mood for a dessert-like a casserole, there's a recipe for pineapple cheese casserole. Meanwhile, vegetarians may enjoy a trying yellow squash casserole or a healthy green bean casserole. But no matter how you like your casserole, there is one thing that remains the same: Casseroles need to be easy and quick to assemble, while also tasting delicious.
For those busy weeknights where cooking up a protein just isn't feasible, there is a simple addition that will change the casserole game.
Add in pre-cooked chicken
One of the best shortcuts for making a noodle casserole is to use rotisserie chicken. Rotisserie chicken is not only budget-friendly, as it's typically under $10, but it's also cooked and ready to go (per NPR). Rotisserie chickens can be found at many grocery stores and have already been seasoned. Taste of Home recommends using rotisserie chicken if you're in a pinch because it doesn't need to be cooked separately. Plus, store-bought rotisserie chicken should have crispy skin, which can be a huge flavor enhancer to any casserole (per Eat This, Not That).
Several chicken noodle casseroles suggest using boneless, skinless chicken breast, which tends to be drier and not as flavorful as other parts of the bird due to its lack of fat (via The Daily Beacon). If you're using rotisserie chicken, you have your pick of which part of the chicken to use. You could even mix it up and use a little bit of breast and thigh meat.
Each cut of the chicken also has a different flavor, which means there's room for customization.