Chicken Bruschetta Casserole Recipe
This Chicken Bruschetta Casserole is a flavorful and comforting baked dish featuring tender shredded chicken coated in a creamy herb and garlic sauce, layered over bite-sized everything bagels, and topped with a fresh tomato bruschetta mixture and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a hearty family dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal.
- Author: Cleo
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Base
Creamy Chicken Mixture
- 1/2 cup herb and garlic cream cheese
- 1/2 cup 18% cream
- 2 cups chicken breast, cooked, shredded (about 2 medium-sized chicken breasts)
Bruschetta Topping
- 2 cups Roma tomatoes, diced, seeds and juice removed
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
Cheese Topping
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, finely grated
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Bagels: Cut the everything bagels into bite-sized pieces and spread them evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish to form the base layer.
- Make Creamy Sauce: In a medium saucepan, combine the herb and garlic cream cheese with the 18% cream over medium-low heat. Whisk continuously until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Add Chicken: Stir the cooked, shredded chicken into the cream cheese mixture until all the chicken pieces are well-coated. Remove this creamy chicken mixture from the heat.
- Mix Bruschetta Topping: In a small bowl, combine diced Roma tomatoes (with seeds and juice removed), diced red onion, basil pesto, salt, black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese. Mix well to blend the flavors.
- Assemble Layers: Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly over the bagel pieces in the baking dish. Then, evenly distribute the bruschetta mixture over the top of the chicken layer.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the finely grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire casserole to top it off.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through.
- Cool and Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes after baking to set. Then cut into portions and serve warm.
- Enjoy! Savor the delicious blend of creamy chicken, fresh bruschetta flavors, and cheesy goodness in every bite.
Notes
- Removing seeds and juice from the tomatoes helps prevent the casserole from becoming too watery.
- Using everything bagels adds a flavorful base, but you can substitute with other bread types if desired.
- Make sure the chicken is shredded finely for even distribution throughout the casserole.
- For a spicier kick, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the bruschetta mixture.
- The dish can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated before baking to save time.
Keywords: Chicken Bruschetta Casserole, creamy chicken casserole, baked chicken dish, chicken and bagel casserole, easy chicken dinner