For those of you on a healthy eating kick, you should close this Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Chicken immediately (and click on over to my Quinoa Salad recipe).
For those of you who are craving a gooey, cheesy, chicken-y, bacon-y, Loaded Baked Potato Casserole and don’t care that there may be a million stick-to-your-ribs (and maybe your hips) calories in this ultimate comfort food dish, you might want to keep right on reading.
And if you want an all-time-favorite-people-will-be-clamoring-for-seconds meal that can feed a crowd and be ready in 45 minutes, then this Loaded Baked Potato Casserole is the dish for you!
Sometimes the simplest meals turn into the best meals. When we head up to the cabin for a weekend getaway, I’ve got cool, crisp mountain air, beautiful lake views, and the refreshing smell of pine trees carried on a light breeze on my mind. I really don’t want to think too much about how I’m going to feed anywhere from 8-18 people (depending on who can get away that weekend).
So I reserve my easiest meals for those Fridays that we head up there. I certainly try to make something warm and comforting, but I’m definitely not willing to slave over a stove when I get there. I want to pop open a nice bottle of wine, put my feet up on the deck railing, take a long deep breath, soak in the sunset, and just be.
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole is so Easy!
Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Chicken to the rescue! Loaded with tender baby potatoes, tangy sour cream, gooey cheese, savory chicken, peppery chives, a bit of tender broccoli, and full of crisp, smoky bacon (let’s definitely not forget the bacon), this dish has something to please everyone (except those on a diet, in which case you might want one of these).
It comes together with very little effort, fills the cabin with mouthwatering aromas, and leaves everyone with bellies almost uncomfortably full (almost). (This is also a great make-ahead meal! Perfect for freezing, then take it with you when you go camping or head up north to the cabin. Just make it in these disposable pans and clean up is a breeze!)
It’s also kind of a cool two-step process. First, boil the baby potatoes until tender, then put them in one layer in a large baking dish. Smash each potato with the bottom of a glass, so they’re partially smushed, but still half-whole. Then mix everything else together in a large bowl and smother the potatoes will all of the awesomeness that sour cream, cheese, chicken, broccoli, and bacon have to offer.
Top with a bit more bacon (of course) and chives and pop it into the oven. Twenty-five minutes later, you’ll have a table full of family and friends begging you for seconds. Life’s too short to not take the time to enjoy those “getaway moments.” Take it all in! (P.S. I started a YouTube Cooking Show. See it here!)
How to Make Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Chicken
- Cook baby potatoes to fork-tender and smash each potato in the bottom of a baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together shredded chicken, cooked bacon, heated broccoli, and green onions.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well. Put this mixture on top of potatoes and spread evenly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, sour cream 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, paprika, pepper, and salt until well blended. Spread this mixture on top of the chicken mixture.
- Cover and bake. (Full recipe directions below.)
Are you looking for more Comfort Food Casseroles? Check out my Chicken Spaghetti Casserole. It’s a family favorite!
Need a quick and easy (and super flavorful) cocktail to go with it? Try this Dark and Stormy Drink. You’ll love it!
If you need more casserole ideas, here are a few more!
Need more comfort food? Here’s are my Instant Pot favorites!
And NOW available… my Instant Pot Authorized Holiday Cookbook if you’re looking for a way to make your holiday cooking a whole lot easier and tastier!
Some Items Used To Make This:
Disposable Pans (if you want to make ahead and take with you)
[bctt tweet=”Full bellies are happy bellies! #comfortfood”]
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 8 People | 20 Minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 25 Minutes |
|
|
|
If you're looking for an easy, very satisfying, very filling Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Chicken, you found it! This is an all-time family favorite and perfect if you need to feed a crowd!
|
- 2 Pounds Baby potatoes Approximately 15-20 potatoes
- 1 Whole Pre-cooked Rotisserie Chicken Meat removed and shredded
- 1 Pound bacon sliced crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 12 oz bag Frozen Broccoli Warmed in microwave or stovetop
- 1 Bunch green onions Sliced crosswise, white and green parts
- 1/2 Cup chicken broth
- 2 Cups sour cream
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
- 1/2 Teaspoon salt
- While the potatoes are cooking, cook bacon pieces in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve bacon grease.
- Turn oven on to 375 degrees. Boil potatoes in a large pot in heavily salted water until fully cooked and tender throughout, approximately 20 minutes. Drain. Grease a large 9"x13" baking dish with either butter or vegetable spray. Place cooked potatoes in baking dish in a single layer. There should be a little space between each potato. Using the bottom of a drinking glass, lightly press down on each potato, smashing it about half way. The bottom of the baking dish should be fully covered when all of the potatoes are smashed. Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon grease over the potatoes.
- While the potatoes are boiling, mix together shredded chicken, cooked bacon (except about 2 tablespoons for garnish on the top), heated broccoli, and green onions (except 2 tablespoons for garnish on top). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix well. Put this mixture on top of potatoes and spread evenly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, sour cream 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, paprika, pepper, and salt until well blended. Spread this mixture on top of the chicken mixture.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes until heated through. Remove foil and top with remaining bacon, cheese, and green onions, then bake another 5-10 minutes to fully melt and brown the cheese. Remove from oven and scoop into serving bowls.
Kaitlyn says
The picture shows two casseroles. Is this recipe enough for two casserole dishes or just one? Thanks
Heather says
The actual recipe is for 8 people and fits in one dish. Doubling it is very easy so that’s also an option if you need to feed 16!
Julie Collas says
Do you bake the casserole before you freeze it or do you freeze it and then bake it?
Heather says
YOu do not have to bake it first if you’re going to freeze it. Just freeze, then thaw, then bake.
Jay says
Are the potatoes crispy by the end of the cooking time of this dish? Or are they soft like baked potato? I really enjoy when the potatoes have that roasted texture to them, was thinking of roasting them a bit before adding all the toppings for an additional cooking time so they come out kinda toasty. Thanks for the recipe by the way and you look stunning 🙂
Heather says
Hey Jay! The potatoes are more like soft baked or boiled. I’d love to hear how your idea of roasting them first works! Let me know!
Harriet L Parmelee says
Can this be made the day before and refrigerated then baked the next day?
Heather says
Yes! That would work well, Harriet! Just let it come to room temperature first or add another 10 minutes to the cooking time.
Vianna says
Please let me know if I could cook this in the tinfoil over the fire considering we don’t currently have a camping oven thank you
Heather says
If you want to do it that way, then I would let it come to room temperature and keep it close enough to the coal bed but far enough away so the bottom won’t burn.
CJ says
Tracy unthaw it first because I did put it in the oven frozen and it was dry but still delicious 😋
Kathleen Johnson says
Does anyone know what the serving size is here? I am wanting to make it for 60 homeless people and the recommended serving size for them since this may be the only meal of their day is 1 1/2 cups. Would this be the serving size?