Delicious & Easy Chicken Zucchini Casserole: The Ultimate Comfort Food Recipe

There’s a special place in everyone’s heart for a truly comforting casserole, and this **Chicken Zucchini Casserole** perfectly fits the bill. Imagine tender, juicy chicken mingled with fresh zucchini, all baked together in a rich, creamy, and wonderfully crunchy stuffing base. It’s a dish that’s not only incredibly delicious but also designed for sharing – whether it’s brought to a potluck, delivered to a friend in need of some extra warmth, or served as a hearty family dinner on a busy weeknight. This versatile casserole offers unparalleled convenience: prepare it in advance, enjoy it fresh from the oven, or freeze portions for a quick meal later. Its leftovers reheat beautifully, often tasting even better the next day. Plus, it’s effortlessly scalable, allowing you to double the recipe to feed a larger crowd with minimal additional effort. From its delightful flavors to its practical advantages, there’s simply everything to love about this chicken and zucchini casserole.

Why This Chicken Zucchini Casserole Recipe Works So Well

You know those moments when you wish you could send a hug, a prayer, and a warm meal to someone who needs it most? This **chicken and stuffing casserole** is precisely that kind of dish. It has been my trusted go-to recipe for delivering comfort and sustenance to loved ones during significant life events – be it a new baby, an illness, a loss, or simply a busy period. Its widespread appeal stems from several key factors that make it an absolute winner:

Effortless Preparation and Affordability

One of the primary reasons this casserole shines is its incredible ease of assembly. It comes together quickly with standard, readily available ingredients, making it an affordable option for any budget. You won’t need gourmet items or specialized cooking techniques; just simple components transformed into a profoundly satisfying meal. This simplicity means you can whip it up even when time is tight, perfect for those unpredictable moments when a homemade meal is most appreciated.

Unbeatable Flavor and Leftover Potential

The taste is undeniably fantastic – a harmonious blend of savory chicken, earthy zucchini, and a rich, creamy sauce topped with a crispy, herbaceous stuffing. But the magic doesn’t stop there. This casserole somehow tastes even better the next day, making it an excellent candidate for meal prep or enjoying convenient leftovers. The flavors meld and deepen overnight, creating an even more satisfying experience. It’s a rare dish that maintains its integrity, and often improves, after refrigeration.

Ultimate Versatility and Customization

This recipe is wonderfully flexible, especially concerning the chicken. You can use whatever boneless chicken you have on hand: succulent boneless chicken thighs (my personal choice for these photos), lean chicken breast meat, leftover roast chicken, or even a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for ultimate convenience. This adaptability ensures that the casserole can fit into your schedule and preferences with ease. Furthermore, the base recipe is robust enough to accommodate slight variations, allowing you to experiment with other vegetables or seasonings if you wish, though it’s perfect as written.

Perfect for Sharing and Scaling

Beyond being a fantastic family dinner, this casserole truly excels as a **potluck dish** or a meal to share. It’s robust, travels well, and is always a crowd-pleaser. The recipe is also incredibly easy to double, meaning you can prepare a large batch to feed your own family and still have enough to share with friends, neighbors, or a food train recipient without significantly increasing your cooking time or effort. This makes it an ideal choice for community events, holiday gatherings, or simply extending kindness through food.

Looking for the perfect fresh accompaniment to your Chicken Zucchini Casserole? Consider pairing it with a vibrant salad. I highly recommend either my Chopped Salad with Buttermilk-Pesto Dressing or the refreshing Arugula and Cucumber Salad recipes. Both are simple to prepare and make excellent potluck additions themselves, offering a crisp counterpoint to the creamy casserole.

Essential Ingredients for Your Chicken Zucchini Casserole

Creating this flavorful casserole begins with selecting the right ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and some helpful tips for each component:

Choosing Your Chicken

As previously mentioned, the **chicken** in this recipe is highly adaptable. While I often opt for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for their rich flavor and moist texture, chicken breast meat works equally well for a leaner option. Feel free to use leftover cooked chicken from a previous meal, or even shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save significant time. When preparing fresh chicken, you can bake, grill, poach, or air fry it until fully cooked. For baking, I typically season boneless, skinless chicken thighs lightly and bake them at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached. Ensure your chicken is diced or shredded into bite-sized pieces for easy incorporation into the casserole mixture.

The Zucchini Factor

**Zucchini** is a star in this dish, adding a delicate freshness and moisture. Standard green zucchini works perfectly, but you can easily substitute yellow squash or even finely chopped broccoli florets if you prefer, or if they are what you have on hand. Remember, there’s absolutely no need to peel your zucchini! The skin is entirely edible, tender, and packed with vitamins and fiber. Simply give it a good wash and dice it.

The Creamy Base: Condensed Soup

For the condensed **cream of chicken soup**, I cannot stress this enough: use Campbell’s brand. While I receive no compensation for this endorsement, my honest experience has shown that other brands simply do not deliver the same creamy consistency and flavor profile essential for this casserole. Brands like Great Value from Walmart, for instance, have consistently yielded disappointing results in this particular recipe. The specific texture and savory depth of Campbell’s soup are key to achieving the desired outcome.

Sour Cream for Tang and Richness

I personally prefer using **reduced-fat sour cream** in this recipe for its slightly lighter taste and consistent texture. However, feel free to use regular full-fat sour cream if that’s your preference; it will add an even richer creaminess to the casserole. Both options contribute a delightful tang that balances the savory elements.

Freshly Shredded Carrots

For the **carrots**, shred them yourself using the large holes of a cheese grater. Pre-shredded carrots, often sold in bags, tend to be much thicker and can result in a different texture in the cooked casserole. Shredding them yourself ensures they cook down nicely and blend seamlessly. And just like with zucchini, I never bother peeling my carrots; it saves time and the skin is perfectly fine to eat after a thorough wash.

The Golden Topping: Butter and Stuffing

The final main ingredients that create the irresistible crunchy topping are **butter** and **stuffing**. Always use unsalted butter to control the overall sodium content of your dish. For the stuffing, **Pepperidge Farm crushed herb stuffing** is my absolute recommendation. Look for the bag with the distinctive blue banner at the top and bottom. This specific brand and type of stuffing provides the perfect blend of herbs and a wonderful texture when baked, creating that signature crunchy golden crust that elevates this casserole from good to unforgettable.

Step-by-Step: How to Make This Easy Chicken Zucchini Casserole

You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to bring this incredibly flavorful casserole to life. With just a few straightforward steps, you’ll have a hearty and satisfying meal ready for your family or guests. Here’s a detailed guide:

Step 1: Prepare Your Stuffing Topping

First, preheat your oven to a comfortable 350°F (177°C). In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed herb stuffing with the melted unsalted butter. Toss them together until the stuffing crumbs are evenly coated with the butter. This step is crucial for creating that delightfully crispy topping. Once mixed, scoop out exactly ½ cup of this buttery stuffing mixture and set it aside in a separate small bowl. This reserved portion will form the crunchy crust on top of your casserole.

Step 2: Combine the Main Casserole Ingredients

Now, to the remaining stuffing mixture in your large bowl, add all the other ingredients: the diced zucchini, cubed cooked chicken, shredded carrots, chopped onion, reduced-fat sour cream, the undiluted can of condensed cream of chicken soup, and a dash of fresh cracked pepper. Using your largest mixing bowl for this step is essential to ensure you have ample room to stir everything thoroughly. Mix all these components until they are well combined and evenly distributed. You want to see the creamy soup base coating all the chicken and vegetables, with the stuffing crumbs integrated throughout, ready to absorb all those wonderful flavors during baking.

Step 3: Assemble and Bake to Golden Perfection

Once your casserole mixture is thoroughly combined, transfer it into a standard 13×9 inch baking dish. Spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of the dish. Then, take the ½ cup of buttery stuffing mixture that you reserved earlier and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the casserole. This will bake into a beautiful, golden, and crunchy crust. Place the baking dish into your preheated oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. The casserole is perfectly done when the top is a beautiful golden brown, and the edges are visibly bubbly and fragrant, indicating that the creamy interior is hot and delicious. Allow it to rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven before serving, to let the flavors settle and the casserole firm up slightly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Zucchini Casserole

Chicken and Zucchini Casserole

Chicken Zucchini Casserole has juicy bits of chicken with zucchini and stuffing baked in a creamy crunchy casserole fit for sharing. This potluck casserole lives to be brought to anyone that needs some extra love. Make it ahead or eat it fresh, the leftovers reheat very well or can be frozen for later.

5 from 4 votes

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Course:
Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine:
American

Keyword:
chicken stuffing casserole, chicken zucchini casserole

Prep Time:

5 minutes
minutes

Cook Time:

45 minutes
minutes

Total Time:

50 minutes
minutes

Authur:

Erica

Servings:

6
people

Calories:

412
kcal

Ingredients

• 6
  oz
  Pepperidge Farm crushed herb stuffing
  (1/2 bag)
• ¾
  cup
  unsalted butter
  melted
• 3
  cups
  diced zucchini
  (about 3 small zucchini)
• 2
  cups
  cubed cooked chicken
  (about 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs or 2 breasts)
• 2
  medium carrots
  shredded
• ½
  cup
  onion
  chopped (~1/2 a medium onion)
• ½
  cup
  reduced fat sour cream
• 1
  (10.5 oz)
  can condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
• ¼
  tsp
  
  fresh cracked pepper
  

Instructions

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl, combine the stuffing and butter. Set aside ½ cup for the topping.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the stuffing and stir to combine. Transfer to a 13×9 baking dish and top with the reserved ½ cup stuffing.
• Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.

Nutrition

Calories:
412
kcal

|

Carbohydrates:
22
g

|

Protein:
10
g

|

Fat:
32
g

|

Saturated Fat:
17
g

|

Polyunsaturated Fat:
2
g

|

Monounsaturated Fat:
9
g

|

Cholesterol:
88
mg

|

Sodium:
717
mg

|

Potassium:
358
mg

|

Fiber:
2
g

|

Sugar:
4
g