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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Monday, October 12, 2015

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole

Want to try something super yummy? Then here you go! This little casserole is pretty simple to throw together...especially if you use a rotisserie chicken like I did. Deli ham completes the ease of this recipe and it cooks in just 45 minutes. It's great for a family dinner or take to a potluck for something different. You can even make it up and freeze it then take it out to thaw to cook later. One thing I like to do with casseroles, is assemble it the day before I need it, pop it in the fridge to pull out the next night for dinner. No muss...no fuss! Anyway....give this delish dish a try...it's pretty stinkin' good!

Chicken Cordon Bleu 
Pasta Casserole



1 rotisserie chicken ~ shredded
8 ounces deli ham ~ diced
12 slices baby Swiss cheese
6 ounces cooked shell pasta

Sauce

4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 cup milk (I used whole)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Salt & pepper to taste

Topping

1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
4 tablespoons butter ~ melted
1/2 teaspoon Lawry's seasoning salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Scatter chicken in the bottom of the prepared pan, followed by the diced ham and pasta.

Lay the cheese slices on top of the pasta.

In a medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat then stir in the flour until smooth and bubbly.

Pour in the milk and continue to stir until thickened and smooth.

Stir in the lemon juice, mustard, paprika and salt and pepper.

Bring to a simmer then remove from heat.

Pour sauce evenly over the ingredients in the pan.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. Stir in the Panko breadcrumbs, Lawry's salt and dried parsley.

Sprinkle over the casserole and bake uncovered for 45 minutes until topping is lightly browned and casserole is bubbly.

Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Let's get cookin'! 
Let's get cookin'!

Scatter the shredded chicken in the pan followed by the ham. 
Scatter the shredded chicken 
in the pan followed by the ham.

Then the pasta. 
Then the pasta.

Then the cheese. 
Then the cheese.

Next brown 4 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan then add the flour. 
Next brown 4 tablespoons of the butter 
in a saucepan then add the flour.

Add the milk, paprika and salt and pepper to make a thickened smooth sauce. 
Add the milk, paprika and salt and 
pepper to make a thickened smooth sauce.

Pour the sauce over the casserole. 
Pour the sauce over the casserole.

Next melt the remaining butter and mix in the panko, dried parsley and Lawry's salt. 
Next melt the remaining butter and mix 
in the panko, dried parsley and Lawry's salt.

Bake! 
Bake!

Allow to cool for a few minutes then eat! SO GOOD! 
Allow to cool for a few minutes then eat! 
SO GOOD!