Loaded Cauliflower Chicken Casserole

Original recipe found here:

http://rachelschultz.com/2013/05/01/loaded-cauliflower-chicken-casserole/Courtesy of: Eating Well

Made on: 09/16/2014

Ingredients (with my adjustments)

1/2 of a boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked & cubed (I seasoned mine with black pepper and red pepper flakes)

About 3/4 of a head of cauliflower, chopped into florets

About 2 crowns of broccoli, chopped into florets

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese (I used ½ mozzarella and ½ Colby/Jack because I had it on hand, but cheddar would also work – adjust to your tastes!)

2 green onions, sliced

1 T bacon bits

1 tsp garlic powder

Salt & pepper to taste

1/4 cup breadcrumbs

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Steam cauliflower and broccoli until tender.

3. Meanwhile, combine cheeses in a large bowl. Stir chicken, green onions, bacon, and garlic powder into remaining cheese. In a separate, small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.

4. Stir cauliflower and broccoli into cheese mixture and season with salt & pepper. Pour into a square (8x8 or 9x9) baking dish. Top with breadcrumb/parmesan mixture.

5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

6. Remove foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Adjustments I made: I noted my adjustments above, but I also doubled this recipe and froze it, so I followed slightly different steps. The instructions above will allow you to eat it right away. I doubled everything and assembled the mixtures in two large bowls (except the breadcrumb/parmesan mixture). I froze them in 1-gallon freezer bags. To bake, I emptied one bag into a square baking dish and put it in the oven at 350 degrees. After about one hour, I mixed it all together to help absorb the extra liquid, added the breadcrumb/parmesan topping, and put it back in the oven for another half hour or so.

Adjustments I would like to make: I could put this in the crockpot for reheating purposes, or add more spices to give it a different flavor, but I like it the way it is too.

Overall Satisfaction: Very good, even if the boys aren’t big fans. I love broccoli, so I was excited to add it to this dish rather than using 100% cauliflower. I ended up mixing in salsa with mine before I ate it, but I do that to most food! Freezing it ahead of time worked perfectly, especially since this is supposed to blend together anyway, so the reheating/recooking wasn't an issue. Plus, being able to get my workout in while this was baking was fantastic!

Would I Make it Again? Yes. It’s a tasty way to get a lot of veggies in. It could easily be made without chicken, but my husband requests that I put actual meat in things occasionally. J

Pictured: The casserole, scooped into a bowl. You could try to serve it in neatly cut squares, but is it really worth it? Mix all those tasty ingredients together, and have at it!