Chicken Pecan Casserole

Hi! I hope your weekend is going well! Mine has been nice and relaxing, just as weekends at home should be. :)

This recipe comes from the Texas Pecan Cookbook. In case you were wondering, Texans love their pecans! The Pecan Tree is the state tree, probably because it's one of the few that can stand the constant heat. My great aunts had huge pecan trees in their backyard, and we would always go out to harvest them around Thanksgiving and Christmas. My dad is especially fanatical about them - he wants them included in every dessert that is made for him, and even then he always says "Not enough pecans!". Needless to say, pecans were a staple of my childhood and I still love them!

The one thing I didn't like about the recipe here is that it was really vague. Literally, it says you use "as much leftover chicken as you have" and "as much wild rice as you want". This doesn't help me! So, I actually added some measurements for consistency. The result is an easy side (or dinner) that is ready in no time at all. Plus, if you have leftovers they will be really easy to warm up. Casseroles are no longer just for Thanksgiving! 

 

Recipe Name

Source:Texas Pecan Cookbook

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 large chicken breast, cubed
• 4 oz mushrooms (roughly 6)
• 1 c. dry wild rice (or wild and brown rice mix), cooked as directed.
• 2 cloves garlic
• Canola oil
• 1 can cream of asparagus/chicken/mushroom soup
• 1/2 c. water
• 2/3 c. chopped pecans
• 1 c. garlic breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Before you start:Preheat your oven to 325 and mince your garlic cloves and slice up your mushrooms thinly.

Recipe

Heat canola oil in a pan over medium heat, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add chicken and mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is cooked through and mushrooms are softened.
Combine cooked chicken, cooked wild rice, pecans, soup, and water. Stir to combine, then pour into a greased 2-qt casserole dish. 
Top casserole with breadcrumbs and bake for 25 minutes, or until the top starts to brown. Let cool for a few minutes, then serve with parmesan cheese if desired. 

Thanks for reading and happy cooking!