How to make Chicken Casserole from scratch

I never thought I would be posting a recipe on here, but here goes... I came home tonight all prepared to make dinner for myself. I had all the ingredients I needed and the Masterfoods recipe base. All set, so I thought. I got everything out to make dinner and for some reason actually checked the use by date on the back of the recipe base and realised crap its out of date. Not like a few days, were talking two months. For a moment I did consider using it anyway and risking food poisoning, but then my brain kicked in. So, then I got resourceful and decided to make the recipe base myself. All simple savings style using what I had in the pantry and backyard. So here’s my simple cheap chicken casserole recipe to save dinner, if you should ever find yourself in this situation or if you just want to try a cheap and easy dinner option. No oven needed, ready in 30 mins (including prep time).

CHICKEN CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS

• 1 chicken breast
• 1 tomato paste sachet (or 2 tablespoons of tomato paste)
• 1 400g can of tomatoes
• 1 cup of rice
• 1 brown onion
• 4 mushrooms
• Garlic (paste or 2 cloves)
• Parsley

 

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN CASSEROLE FROM SCRATCH

1. Cut chicken into strips.
2. Slice mushrooms, onions and parsley.
3. Put rice on to boil for 15 mins.
4. Sauté onions and garlic for 1 min until translucent. Add chicken and brown.
5. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, mushrooms and parsley (save some parsley to garnish). Stir.
6. Cook for 10-15 mins stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked through.
7. Serve in a bowl sprinkled with parsley.

Optional changes:

• You don’t need to add mushrooms if you don’t like them. You could substitute with olives or cauliflower.  
• Instead of parsley you can use basil or chives, depends on your personal taste.
• You can substitute rice with cous cous or pasta. I like it with any option, just depends what I have in the pantry at the time.
• Grate cheese over the top to serve.
• This recipe makes enough for 2 people for dinner, however if you want left overs for lunch or you just eat more than me you can use 2 chicken breasts and 2 cups of rice/cous cous/pasta.

I was pretty happy with myself to come up with a solution for dinner. Given that I’m home by myself takeaway would’ve been the easy option. If you’re forced to stop and be resourceful  you really do find out just how much you can make with the few items you have in your pantry.

Oh and it tasted amazing if you’re wondering. Just like if I used the recipe base. 

Toni x