Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole 🍗

Introduction

Warm, hearty, and packed with traditional holiday flavors, Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole is the ultimate comfort food shortcut for busy weeknights and festive gatherings alike. This all-in-one bake captures everything you love about Thanksgiving dinner—savory stuffing, tender chicken, creamy sauce, and aromatic herbs—in a single, effortless dish. It’s perfect for families craving those familiar flavors without the hassle of an all-day meal prep.

Deliciously Unique Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole

What sets this casserole apart is its clever combination of everyday ingredients and iconic holiday classics. Every bite brings together juicy chicken, sweet-tart cranberry sauce, creamy gravy, and crisp-topped stuffing—offering nostalgic taste in an easy weeknight form. Unlike the traditional spread, this recipe is quick to assemble, filling, and appeals to both adults and kids, making it a reliable crowd pleaser at potlucks and family dinners.

Preparing the Perfect Thanksgiving-Inspired Layers

Start by shredding cooked chicken (rotisserie works great for convenience) and tossing it with creamy soup and rich gravy for the ultimate savory base. Layer on green beans or your favorite vegetable, add a touch of tangy cranberry sauce for balance, and top with seasoned stuffing. These layers mimic a festive plate, creating a comforting medley of flavors in each serving.

Assembling Your Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole

Layer each component in a baking dish: seasoned chicken as the base, vegetables and cranberries for color and flavor, cream of chicken soup or gravy for creamy richness, and a generous blanket of herby stuffing on top. Bake until bubbling and golden for a dish that looks and tastes like Thanksgiving on a plate.

Serving Suggestions for a Festive Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole

Garnish your casserole with chopped parsley or a sprinkle of crispy fried onions for extra texture. Serve with a side of roasted vegetables or a simple green salad to round out the meal. Leftovers reheat beautifully, making it perfect for easy lunches the next day.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields 6 generous servings, with each portion containing approximately 350 to 400 calories depending on your mix-ins and toppings. It’s a wholesome, balanced meal with protein, veggies, and carbs all in one dish.

Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole (Recap)

Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole crams all the cozy flavors of the holiday season into a single casserole. Simple to make, delightful to eat, and designed for busy families or casual gatherings—it’s a guaranteed hit whenever you crave comfort food.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list sorted by grocery store section—streamlining your meal prep and avoiding forgotten ingredients.

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk (or broth), gravy, thyme, sage, and a dash of salt and pepper. Mix until well combined.
3. Spread the chicken mixture evenly in the casserole dish.
4. Scatter green beans and dollops of cranberry sauce over the chicken layer.
5. Prepare the stuffing mix according to package directions. Fluff with a fork, then gently spread stuffing over the casserole as the top layer.
6. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the stuffing topping is golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
7. Let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley or crispy fried onions, if desired. Serve warm.

Weekly Meal Planning

Thanksgiving Chicken Casserole is an excellent recipe to prepare ahead and enjoy throughout a busy week. Save and schedule this recipe for your meal plan to automatically consolidate all ingredient quantities and create sorted, smart shopping lists—minimizing food waste and avoiding duplicate purchases.

Planning Benefits:

• Calculates total ingredient amounts across all your planned meals
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery store section for maximum efficiency
• Helps you see how ingredients overlap, making prep and storage easier
• Keeps you on budget and on track with healthy, home-cooked meals

Pro tip: If planning additional casseroles or meals using similar ingredients (like chicken, green beans, or stuffing mix), schedule this recipe to see how ingredient needs stack up in advance.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes