Chicken Tettrazini

total time:: 1 hr

Makes 2 (8x8) casseroles

Holly Mosby

ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
Cooking spray
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
2/3 cup finely chopped celery
1 teaspoon black pepper
garlic powder, thyme, nutmeg to taste
3/4 teaspoon salt
16 oz package presliced mushrooms
1/2 cup dry sherry
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 (14.5-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 1/4 cups (9 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
1/2 cup (4 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
7 cups hot cooked vermicelli (about 1 pound uncooked pasta)
4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 (1-ounce) slice white bread or panko
1/2 cup sliced almonds (optional)

directions

1
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2
2. Melt butter in large stockpot coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, pepper, salt, and mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Add sherry; cook 1 minute.
3
3. Lightly spoon flour into a measuring cup; level with a knife. Gradually add flour to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly (mixture will be thick) with a whisk. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
4
4. Add 1 cups Parmesan cheese and cream cheese, stirring with a whisk until cream cheese melts. Add the pasta and chicken, and stir until blended. Divide the pasta mixture between 2 (8- inch-square) baking dishes coated with cooking spray.
5
5. Place bread in food processor and pulse10 times or until coarse crumbs form. Combine breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese; sprinkle evenly over pasta mixture.
6
TO FREEZE DO NOT BAKE!
7
6.Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove casserole from oven. Cool completely in refrigerator. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing to remove as much air as possible. Wrap with heavy-duty foil. Store in freezer for up to 2 months.
8
TO PREPARE FROZEN UNBAKED CASSEROLE: Thaw casserole completely in refrigerator (about 24 hours). Preheat oven to 350°. Remove foil; reserve foil. Remove plastic wrap discard wrap. Cover casserole with reserved foil; bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 1 hour or until golden and bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes.