Two magic words to get dinner on the table? Cheap and easy. Senior Producer Nicole McLaughlin has us covered with chicken casserole recipes that promise both—with big flavor to boot. So if you’re looking to simplify mealtime but don’t want to sacrifice hearty comfort, you’re in the right place. From Bang Bang to Parm, here are five “cheap and easy” chicken casseroles everyone will love (and go back to for seconds).
Bang Bang Chicken Casserole
Hannah Hufham / Food Styling: Amanda Stanfield / Prop Styling: Keoshia McGhee
“When you bang bang anything, you know it’s delicious,” ensures Nicole. And we know that’s right. The sweet and spicy sauce made from mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, and rice vinegar brings this otherwise simple chicken and rice dish to the next level—all in one pan. Nicole calls the first bite “a flavor explosion.”
Chicken Pot Pie Cobbler
Allrecipes/Ramona Cruz-Peters
This might just be “the easiest chicken pot pie you’ve ever had…and also, way better,” according to Nicole. A creamy shredded chicken base—loaded with (frozen!) mixed veggies—gets topped with a biscuit mix shortcut for a comforting dinner in less than an hour. And the taste? “Like a warm hug.”
Ground Chicken Enchiladas
Allrecipes
Who can resist a creamy, cheesy enchilada casserole? This version uses ground chicken because, as Nicole notes, “If you’re looking to save money, ground chicken is the way to go.” And store-bought shortcuts make this easy, as promised, as well. You’ll end up with a 9×13 full of “bubbly goodness” that is a total crowd pleaser.
Stick of Butter Chicken and Rice Casserole
Peyton Beckwith
“Please tell me you have not been sleeping on Stick of Butter Chicken and Rice?” implores Nicole. “Talk about cheap…Talk about easy,” this “new family favorite” comes together in one pan in just about an hour. Rice, mushrooms, canned broth, chicken thighs, Parmesan cheese, and a stick of butter, of course, are layered in a baking dish before taking a trip to the oven. It’s as simple as that.
The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake
DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS
A healthier, simplified chicken Parmesan that doesn’t require frying? Say less. Use budget-friendly chicken tenders, jarred sauce, cheese, and croutons to give this baked masterpiece from Chef John a fried, breading effect without the extra work. “Chef John ain’t gonna steer us wrong,” assures Nicole. And this proves out. “One of the better Italian chicken casseroles I’ve ever made,” she adds.
Now the question becomes, not if we’re making chicken casserole tonight, but “which one?”
