Hairy Bikers Chicken Casserole

Hairy Bikers Chicken Casserole is made with chicken thighs, streaky bacon, onions, celery, button mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, carrots, and leeks. This easy Chicken Casserole recipe creates a delicious family dinner that takes about 90 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 6 people.

Hairy Bikers Chicken Casserole Ingredients

• 8 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Thighs
• 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil, Divided For Use
• 4 Rashers Of Streaky Bacon, Cut Into Strips
• 2 Onions, Sliced
• 2 Celery Sticks, Thinly Sliced
• 150g Button Mushrooms, Wiped And Quartered
• 400g Can Chopped Tomatoes
• 600ml Chicken Stock
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 Tsp Dried Thyme
• 375g Carrots, Sliced
• 1 Tbsp Cornflour (Cornstarch In The UK)
• 2 Leeks, Sliced
• Sea Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Cobbler Topping:

• 350g Floury Potatoes (E.g., King Edwards Or Maris Pipers), Peeled
• 250g Self-raising Flour, Plus Extra For Dusting
• 1 Tsp Fine Sea Salt
• 100g Cold Butter, Cut Into Cubes
• 125ml Whole Milk, Plus Extra For Brushing

How To Make Hairy Bikers Chicken Casserole

1. Prep the Potatoes: Peel the potatoes and boil them until tender. Drain, mash, and allow to cool.
2. Season & Brown the Chicken: Cut each chicken thigh into 4 pieces. Season well with salt and pepper. Heat half the oil in a large frying pan and fry the chicken until lightly browned all over, doing this in batches to avoid overcrowding. Transfer browned chicken to a flameproof casserole dish. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6.
3. Cook Bacon and Veggies: In the same frying pan, add the remaining oil along with the bacon, onions, and celery. Fry for 4-5 minutes until lightly browned, stirring often. Add the mushrooms and cook for another minute.
4. Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the bacon, onions, celery, and mushrooms to the casserole dish with the chicken. Stir in the chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, bay leaf, thyme, carrots, and sliced leeks. Bring to a simmer on the hob, then cover and transfer to the oven. Cook covered for 30 minutes.
5. Make the Cobbler Topping: While the chicken cooks, combine the flour and salt in a bowl. Rub the cold butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 250g of the cooled mashed potato and mix to form a crumbly texture. Gradually stir in the milk to form a soft dough.
6. Shape & Cut the Cobbler: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and shape it into a thick sausage, about 24cm long. Cut into 12 rounds, each about 2cm thick.
7. Finish the Casserole: Remove the casserole from the oven. Mix the cornflour with 2 tablespoons of water and stir into the casserole to thicken. Arrange the dough rounds on top, overlapping slightly. Brush with milk and season with a little more salt and pepper.
8. Bake Uncovered: Return the casserole to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the topping is well-risen and golden brown.
9. Serve: Serve the casserole hot, ideal for a hearty family dinner.

Can I Cook The Chicken Casserole In A Slow Cooker?

Yes, you can. Brown the chicken, bacon, onions, celery, and mushrooms in a pan. Transfer them to the slow cooker with the tomatoes, chicken stock, bay leaf, thyme, carrots, and leeks. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Mix cornflour with water and stir in 30 minutes before serving. Cook the cobbler topping separately in the oven and add it just before serving.

Recipe Tips

• Mash and Cool Potatoes: Mash the potatoes while they are warm, but let them cool down before you mix them with the flour. This stops the dough from getting too sticky.
• Brown the Chicken Well: Make sure to brown the chicken well before you put it in the casserole. This adds a lot of flavor and keeps the chicken juicy.
• Let It Simmer: Before you bake the casserole, let it simmer on the stove for a few minutes. This helps the flavors mix together well.
• Even Cobbler Topping: When you roll the dough for the topping, try to make it the same thickness everywhere so it cooks evenly.

What To Serve With Chicken Casserole

Chicken Casserole pairs well with mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, crusty bread, or a simple garden salad. It can also be served alongside buttered peas, glazed carrots, garlic spinach, or roasted parsnips.

How To Store Chicken Casserole

• Refrigerate: Store the casserole in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Freeze the casserole in a sealed container, it can last in the freezer for 2 months. To use it again, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

How To Reheat Leftovers

• In The Oven: Heat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Put the casserole in an oven dish and cover it with aluminum foil to keep it moist. Warm it up for about 20-25 minutes until it’s hot inside.
• In The Microwave: Place some casserole in a microwave-safe container and cover it. Heat it on high for about 2-3 minutes. Stir it halfway through to make sure it heats up evenly.
• On the Stove: Put the casserole in a pot and add a little chicken broth or water. Heat it on medium and stir sometimes. This keeps it nice and moist.

Chicken Casserole Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 420 kcal
• Protein: 32g
• Carbohydrates: 33g
• Sugars: 6g
• Fat: 20g
• Saturated Fat: 9g
• Fiber: 6g
• Sodium: 900mg

Try More Hairy Bikers Recipes:

• Hairy Bikers Sausage Casserole
• Hairy Bikers French Chicken Casserole
• Hairy Bikers Venison Casserole
• Hairy Bikers Pork Casserole