Substitutions

• Leftover turkey for chicken: Use the same amount of shredded cooked turkey for a great dinner after Thanksgiving or any holiday meal.
• Peas and carrots for mixed vegetables: If your family prefers a simpler vegetable combination, frozen peas and carrots work beautifully.
• Plain stuffing for chicken flavored stuffing: A regular savory stuffing mix can work if that is what you have, though you may want to taste the filling and adjust the seasoning.
• Greek yogurt for sour cream: Plain Greek yogurt can replace the sour cream if you want a similar creamy tang with a slightly different texture.
• Cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken: This gives the filling a deeper, earthier flavor and works especially well if your family already enjoys mushrooms.
• Low sodium broth for regular broth: This is an easy way to control the salt level, particularly because the canned soup and stuffing mix already contain seasoning.

Variations

• Cheesy chicken stuffing casserole: Sprinkle a cup of shredded cheddar over the creamy chicken filling before adding the stuffing for an extra rich layer.
• Turkey holiday casserole: Use cooked turkey in place of chicken and add a small spoonful of cranberry sauce alongside each serving for an easy holiday leftovers dinner.
• Broccoli chicken casserole: Replace part or all of the mixed vegetables with frozen broccoli florets for a combination that goes especially well with the creamy sauce.
• Herbier stuffing topping: Add a little dried parsley, sage, or extra thyme to the stuffing mixture if you enjoy a stronger holiday stuffing flavor.
• Extra vegetable casserole: Stir in another cup of frozen vegetables when you want to stretch the meal a little further and put more vegetables on the table.
• Creamier filling: Add an extra spoonful or two of sour cream if your family likes a particularly rich and creamy casserole.

Tips and Tricks

• Use rotisserie chicken: Pulling meat from a store bought rotisserie chicken takes most of the work out of the preparation and makes this a realistic dinner even on a packed evening.
• Do not thaw the vegetables: Frozen mixed vegetables can go directly into the filling, which saves time and prevents them from becoming too soft before baking.
• Keep the stuffing fluffy: Stir only until the stuffing is moistened and avoid packing it tightly over the filling so the top can develop those nice toasted edges.
• Watch the salt: Stuffing mix, canned soup, and chicken broth all contain seasoning, so using low sodium broth can help if you are sensitive to salt.
• Look for bubbling edges: A golden topping looks good, but bubbling filling around the edges is the better clue that your casserole is heated through.
• Give it five minutes: Resting the casserole before serving makes a surprisingly big difference because the creamy filling has time to settle and thicken.
• Use cooked chicken that is still tender: Dry chicken will not become juicy again in the casserole, so rotisserie chicken or gently cooked leftover chicken gives you the best texture.

Serving Ideas

• Simple green salad: A crisp salad with a light dressing gives you a fresh contrast to the creamy chicken and buttery stuffing.
• Green beans: Steamed or roasted green beans keep the meal simple and add another vegetable without competing with the casserole.
• Roasted broccoli: Those browned edges on roasted broccoli are especially good next to the soft, creamy filling.
• Cranberry sauce: This is particularly tasty when you make the casserole with leftover turkey because the sweet tart cranberry flavor cuts through the richness.
• Fresh fruit: Apple slices, grapes, berries, or whatever fruit your family already likes can round out the plate with almost no additional work.
• Dinner rolls: Warm rolls make the meal even cozier, especially if you have hungry kids who like something extra for scooping up the creamy filling.

Storage and Make Ahead Tips

• Refrigerator storage: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate them for 2 to 3 days.
• Cover the baking dish: If you have plenty left, you can cover the cooled casserole dish tightly and refrigerate it rather than transferring individual portions.
• Reheat gently: Warm individual servings in the microwave until hot, or place a larger portion in a covered baking dish in a 350°F oven until heated through.
• Refresh the topping: If you are reheating the casserole in the oven, uncover it for the last few minutes so the stuffing has a chance to regain some texture.
• Prepare the filling early: Mix the chicken filling several hours ahead, cover it, and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble dinner.
• Wait on the stuffing: For the best topping texture, mix the stuffing with the broth and butter shortly before the casserole goes into the oven.
• Use leftovers wisely: If you know you will be reheating individual portions, divide the casserole into containers after dinner so tomorrow's lunch is already taken care of.