Creamy Chicken Casserole with mushrooms is a treasure of a recipe. It’s popularly called “Chicken Gloria” and it will win you over. This chicken bake is the perfect party dish and is a reader favorite.

creamy chicken casserole (chicken bake) with mushrooms garnished with parsley

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We love easy chicken casserole recipes like Chicken Tetrazzini and One-Pot Chicken and Rice. This Chicken and Mushroom Casserole does not disappoint!

Chicken Casserole Video

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Why we love this Chicken Bake

Crowd-Pleaser! Galina (my sister’s mama-in-law) is an amazing cook and this is her chicken and mushroom casserole. It is always a hit at parties and church potlucks. We make this often.

The chicken is incredibly tender – you will savor every morsel. I’ve seen sorta-somewhat similar recipes online referred to as Chicken Gloria, but I love that this one is made from scratch. It uses simple, non-canned ingredients (no cream of chicken soup needed).

Reheats Well – This chicken and mushroom casserole also re-heats really well (if you are lucky enough to have leftovers). You will likely add this recipe to your list of favorites.

Ingredients for Chicken Casserole

The ingredients for this recipe are surprisingly simple but they just work (see full printable ingredient list below):

  • Chicken breast (or chicken tenders)
  • Chicken broth
  • Half and half*
  • All-purpose flour (or use a GF substitute)
  • Mushrooms
  • Onion – it disappears into the sauce
  • Garlic – don’t skip it
  • Lemon juice – fresh is best

*What is half and half? Half and half is basically light cream. If you aren’t able to find “half and half” at your grocery store, you can substitute with equal parts of milk and heavy cream.

Ingredients for Chicken Casserole with chicken breast, mushrooms, lemon, garlic, cream

Can I Substitute the Mushrooms?

You can replace white mushrooms with portabello mushrooms. If you don’t like mushrooms, you can substitute with different vegetables, just pick sturdy veggies (avoid zucchini which turns mushy). Here are some great options to replace mushrooms:

  • Frozen peas
  • Asparagus
  • Caramelized onions
  • Artichoke hearts (well-drained)

How to Make Chicken Casserole

1. Sautee Chicken: Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour. Heat 3 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Once the oil is hot, add chicken and saute until golden, and transfer to a 13×9 casserole baking dish.

How to Make Chicken Casserole step by step with dredging and sautéing chicken

Pro Tip: Work in batches if needed so you don’t crowd your pan. Don’t worry about cooking the chicken through; it still needs to go in the oven

2. Sautee Mushrooms: Add 3 Tbsp oil along and saute mushrooms and onions until soft and golden. Add garlic and saute another 1-2 min. Spread mixture over the chicken.

Sautéing mushrooms, onions and garlic for chicken casserole

3. Make the Sauce: In a medium saucepan (or in the same pan you’ve been using), melt 3 Tbsp butter. Whisk in 3 Tbsp flour until lightly golden (1-2 min). Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp pepper, and whisk until smooth. Add 1 cup half & half and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

how to make cream sauce for chicken casserole

4. Combine and Bake: Pour sauce over the chicken casserole. Cover with foil and bake chicken and mushroom casserole at 350˚F for 45 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Creamy chicken bake in casserole with mushrooms garnished with parsley and served in casserole dish

Serve with

This chicken bakes in gravy so it is great served over Creamy Mashed Potatoes or Egg noodles (the same way we serve Beef Stroganoff). It’s also great paired with these fresh sides:

Common Questions

Can I substitute the chicken breast?

You can use trimmed chicken thighs or chicken tenders instead. If using chicken tenders, you don’t need to slice them.

Can I Make this ahead?

Make and combine the chicken and mushrooms and refrigerate. The next day, make the sauce, assemble, and bake as directed.

Does chicken casserole reheat well?

Yes, you can reheat a pre-baked and chilled chicken casserole in the oven: cover with foil and bake at 325˚f for about 20 minutes or just until hot, or reheat on the stovetop over low heat just until hot, stirring occasionally.

Can I freeze chicken casserole?

Yes! You can freeze leftover chicken casserole. One of my readers shared her method: “It works! I took the pan out of the freezer, left it in the fridge most of the day, and reheated it in a 350* oven for about 40 minutes.”

Cooking in a crock pot or slow cooker?

One of our readers reported great results using a multi-cooker/ slow cooker: brown the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker using the sautee function and remove. Sautée onions and mushrooms then return chicken to the pan. Combine sauce ingredients in a pan on the stove, pour it over the chicken, and slow-cook on low for five hours.

Chicken and Mushroom Casserole chicken bake

More Casserole Recipes:

Casseroles are perfect for parties and gatherings because they are easy to make and easy to scale up. These casserole recipes always get rave reviews:

Chicken Casserole Recipe (Chicken Gloria)

4.94 from 644 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Chicken Casserole
The chicken in this chicken casserole is incredibly tender – you will savor every morsel! This chicken bake re-heats really well (if you are lucky enough to have leftovers).
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10

Ingredients for Chicken and Mushroom Casserole:

  • 2 1/2 lbs chicken breasts , (4 to 5 large), cut into 1 -inch thick strips
  • 1 1/2 tsp sea salt , plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour , to coat the chicken
  • 6 Tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 lb white mushrooms, thickly sliced
  • 1 medium onion, finely diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

Ingredients for the Sauce:

Instructions

  • Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge both sides in flour. Heat 3 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. Once oil is hot, add chicken and saute until golden. Work in batches if needed so you don't crowd your pan. Don't worry about cooking the chicken through; it still needs to go in the oven. Transfer chicken to a 13×9 casserole baking dish.
  • Scrape of any debris from the skillet. Add 3 Tbsp oil along with sliced mushrooms and diced onions and saute until soft and golden. Add garlic and saute another 1-2 min. Spread mixture over the chicken.
  • In a medium saucepan (or in the same pan you’ve been using), melt 3 Tbsp butter. Whisk in 3 Tbsp flour until lightly golden (1-2 min).
  • Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp pepper, and whisk until smooth. Add 1 cup half & half and bring to a simmer. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour sauce over the chicken and mushrooms. Cover with foil and bake at 350˚F for 45 minutes. Serve warm or hot over mashed potatoes, pasta or rice.

Notes

Don’t use a dutch oven for this recipe. It bakes better in a casserole. 

Nutrition Per Serving

340kcal Calories15g Carbs28g Protein18g Fat5g Saturated Fat90mg Cholesterol155mg Sodium658mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar225IU Vitamin A4.2mg Vitamin C41mg Calcium1.5mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Chicken Casserole Recipe (Chicken Gloria)
Amount per Serving
Calories
340
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
18
g
28
%
Saturated Fat
 
5
g
31
%
Cholesterol
 
90
mg
30
%
Sodium
 
155
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
658
mg
19
%
Carbohydrates
 
15
g
5
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
28
g
56
%
Vitamin A
 
225
IU
5
%
Vitamin C
 
4.2
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
41
mg
4
%
Iron
 
1.5
mg
8
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken Casserole
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $
Calories: 340
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.94 from 644 votes (261 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Monica Vasquez
    March 19, 2019

    Hi Natasha,

    Can other veggies be added? If so what would you suggest?

    MV

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 20, 2019

      Hi Monica! That is a great question! Several of our readers have commented they added veggies and loved it. Here is what one of our readers wrote “I added some sauteed kale and spinach to get some more veggies. It turned out great. I also served it over pasta for my husband to fill him up more” I hope that helps.

      Reply

  • Ann
    March 19, 2019

    Hi Natasha,

    I absolutely love each and every recipe you post! I’m hosting a dinner party and just know this recipe will be a hit, however most of my guest are allergic to mushrooms. What would you suggest I can replace the mushrooms with without taking away from how yummy it is?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 19, 2019

      Hi Ann! You are so nice! Thank you for sharing that with me. We have only tried this with mushrooms but you could add frozen peas or artichoke hearts. A vegetable that would not get mushy would probably work well.

      Reply

      • Ann
        March 19, 2019

        Peas sounds good, my husband even suggested to add egg noodles to make it a one pot meal.
        Thank you!

        Reply

  • Carol
    March 6, 2019

    Can this be made ahead of time and baked later?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 6, 2019

      Hi Carol, I think that would work fine but you may need to bake just slightly longer since the casserole will be chilled going into the oven. I hope you love it!

      Reply

  • Veronika
    February 25, 2019

    Instead of half-and-half can I put almond milk?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 25, 2019

      Hi Veronika, I haven’t tried a dairy-free substitute but one of our readers, Reba, wrote in with the following: “Absolutely delicious! Even after I substituted almond milk for cream since my mom can’t eat dairy – it was extremely tasty!”

      Reply

  • Aimee
    February 24, 2019

    This recipe is awesome! Very easy to prepare. Absolutely delicious. Served it over mashed potatoes. Thanks for sharing! Yumm!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 25, 2019

      You’re so welcome, Aimee! I’m happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Mirela
    February 19, 2019

    This was perfect! Simple to make yet super tasty! I love that I didn’t have to smother my chicken and mushrooms on the stovetop, they came out perfect from the oven. It looked presentable too! Chicken was soooo soft and juicy! I used iron skillet to bake and added a few minutes since I started mashed potatoes a bit too late.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 19, 2019

      Hi Mirela, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!

      Reply

  • Sue Undgreen
    February 13, 2019

    I am lactose intolerant. Could I substitute lactose free milk enriched with ghee for the half and half?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 13, 2019

      Hi Sue, I haven’t tried substituting that but here is what one of our readers wrote: “Oh my! This was my first ever creamy dish i liked after having to go glutenfree and lactose free. So i adjusted it by using gf plain flour. For the sauce i used Nuttelex, gf flour, homemade beefbroth (which gave this dish an amazing flavor), and then insted of the milk: 1/3 of each, cream, coconut milk and rice milk. (I don’t like either of those flavours on it’s own so i tried to mix them which worked a treat! Will be cooked again!” I hope this helps!

      Reply

  • Tanya H.
    February 8, 2019

    Tried this last night using chicken tenders. It was fantastic! You could cut the chicken with a fork. So tender! I would use less garlic next time, but that’s just personal preference.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 8, 2019

      Thank you so much for the fantastic review! I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Lauren Yuen
    February 5, 2019

    I love mushrooms, do you think I could double them and the recipe would still turn out ok?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 5, 2019

      Hi Lauren! I don’t see why not! You may need to fry them in batches, however. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe

      Reply

      • Lauren Yuen
        February 6, 2019

        Hi, I didn’t see your comment until after! I have a 14 inch pan, but even so it was a bit crowded for all the mushrooms (I did do 2lbs). They browned, but not as golden as I quite wanted so next time I will do batches.

        The extra mushrooms in the dish were delectable! Could even have more 😉 IMO haha.

        Also, I added a teaspoon of cayenne to the white sauce (oh my gosh it was fabulous!) It was so mild in all that sauce that my infant and toddler loved the recipe and didn’t think it was spicy!

        Reply

  • Alexa
    February 4, 2019

    Can this be baked in a deep saute pan instead?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      February 4, 2019

      Hi Alexa, if it is large enough and oven safe, I don’t see why not!

      Reply

  • Susan
    January 27, 2019

    I am not really a very good cook and most of my dishes do not come out very well but I tried this tonight and it turned out absolutely perfect. My husband loved it and it will be a keeper! You are now my go to person for meal ideas. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 28, 2019

      That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

      Reply

  • Irina
    January 27, 2019

    Natasha,

    This recipe is excellent! Do you think it would work with skinless, boneless chicken thighs?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 28, 2019

      Yes, that would work 😬. Several people reported great results with chicken thighs

      Reply

  • neill
    January 27, 2019

    Love it, made it this evening, just added a couple of slices of Spanish serano ham to it and served with steamed fresh vegetables. A great tasty warming dinner.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 28, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that!

      Reply

  • Eric
    January 23, 2019

    Hi Natasha, I just made this tonight and it was a hit. I like that it doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and was relatively easy to make. Looking forward to trying some of your other recipes.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 24, 2019

      I’m happy you enjoyed that Eric! Thank you for that great feedback!

      Reply

  • Jenny
    January 14, 2019

    Hi Natasha,
    When I took it out of the oven the butter/oil was kind of separated from the rest of the sauce and didn’t look as creamy as yours. What did I do wrong? It tasted good though.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 15, 2019

      Hi Jenny, I haven’t had that happen to my dish but I am more than happy to troubleshoot! Did you make any alterations to the dish? Was it foil covered and mixed will? I’m wondering if the oven temperature may be the culprit?

      Reply

  • Suzanne Hogan
    January 11, 2019

    Thanks Natasha, Love this recipe,- have been making it regularly since I came across it about a year ago.It’s now a family favourite. Thank-you!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 12, 2019

      You’re so welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.

      Reply

  • JZ
    January 9, 2019

    You have a “better than bouillon “ on your ingredients picture. Do you use that if you don’t have homemade chicken broth? Same proportions?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 9, 2019

      Yes! that is correct!

      Reply

  • Helen
    January 8, 2019

    Natasha, what kind of sea salt are you using? Is it better than a regular salt?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 8, 2019

      Hi Helen, we love the sea salt from Costco – more naturally sourced salt and I think it flavors food better 🙂 I hope you love this chicken casserole! 😉

      Reply

  • EmilyMBerry
    January 8, 2019

    I only had about half the amount of chicken in the house but kept the other quantities the same for an extra saucy version and I recommend that to others if you like a lot of delicious creamy sauce. it is def not a week night meal though, between the breading, sautéing, making the roux and then baking but definitely a delicious meal and the chicken gets very tender.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 8, 2019

      I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!

      Reply

  • David Price
    January 5, 2019

    I love this! This proves that mushroom is another amazing and indeed a magical plant. Thank you for sharing the mouth-watering recipe. Will surely give it a try
    Amazing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      January 5, 2019

      I hope you love this recipe, David!

      Reply

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