Chicken Blue Ribbon
A comforting casserole featuring tender chicken, savory ham, and creamy Swiss cheese, perfect for weeknights or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 5 cups shredded chicken
- 9 ounces sliced deli-style black forest ham, cut into strips (about 9 slices)
- 8 ounces sliced Swiss cheese (about 12 thin slices)
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter for sauce
- 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 to room temperature for topping
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Evenly spread the shredded chicken into the baking dish.
- Evenly layer the sliced black forest ham over the chicken.
- Place the sliced Swiss cheese evenly over the ham, overlapping the slices to fit into the casserole dish.
Sauce Preparation
- Melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the Dijon mustard, freshly squeezed lemon juice (if using), garlic powder, salt, nutmeg (if using), and cayenne pepper (if using).
- Sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and continue whisking over medium heat until it forms a paste.
- Slowly add the whole milk, a quarter of a cup at a time, whisking after each addition until the mixture is smooth.
- Allow it to simmer for 4 minutes or until the sauce has thickened, whisking occasionally.
Assembly and Baking
- Pour the sauce over the cheese layer and spread it evenly around.
- Combine the Panko breadcrumbs and softened unsalted butter in a small bowl and spread this mixture evenly over the casserole dish.
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the Panko topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to set before serving.
Notes
Serve hot with a side salad or steamed vegetables. You can substitute chicken with shredded turkey or add vegetables like spinach for variation. For a crispy topping, you may broil it for a few minutes at the end of baking.