Chicken, Kale, and Pasta Casserole With Cheese

Chicken, Kale, and Pasta Casserole With Cheese
Chicken, Kale, and Pasta Casserole. Diana Rattray
  • 50 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins,
  • Cook: 35 mins
  • Yield: Serves 8 to 10
Ratings (8)

By Diana Rattray

Updated 10/03/17

Chopped cooked kale is delicious in this casserole, but chard or spinach could also be used. This is a hearty dish, perfect to serve a family any day of the week or make it for a potluck or large gathering. Casarecce pasta is a slightly twisted, open, tubular shape which holds sauce very well. It worked beautifully in this casserole, and would be great in a creamy macaroni and cheese dish as well. Feel free to use fusilli, campanelle, macaroni, penne, or similar pasta in this dish.

What You'll Need

  • 16 ounces fusilli or casarecce pasta
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • 2 cups diced cooked chicken
  • 2 cups frozen kale or spinach, cooked and well drained
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar or Cheddar blend of cheeses
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup soft fresh bread crumbs

How to Make It

  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water as directed on the package, then drain and rinse with hot water; set aside.
  2. In a sauté pan or large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until onion is lightly browned. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until the flour is well incorporated and cooked, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and chicken broth. Continue cooking, stirring, until thickened and bubbly.
  1. Add the cream, thyme, parsley, chicken, and kale, stir to blend.
  2. Stir in the cheese until melted, then salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Combine with the pasta and transfer to a lightly greased 2 to 2 1/2-quart baking dish.
  4. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and toss with the bread crumbs. Spread over the casserole.
  5. Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and ​the top is lightly browned. To brown the crumbs more, turn the broiler on for a few seconds. Watch carefully, though: they could burn very quickly.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 572
Total Fat 26 g
Saturated Fat 13 g
Unsaturated Fat 8 g
Cholesterol 92 mg
Sodium 521 mg
Carbohydrates 52 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Protein 29 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)