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)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Charlene
    September 7, 2019

    Wow wow wow! This was incredible!
    My 6 year old son said to me :”this is really delicious!” He has NEVER said that about any meal I’ve ever cooked him before! High praise indeed!

    I added a layor of carrots and also a half a courgette too. It was amazing! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      September 7, 2019

      That is the best when kids love what we moms make. That’s so great, Charlene!

      Reply

  • Kathy
    August 29, 2019

    Made this dish last night and it was perfect! The chicken was so tender and the sauce was wonderful – not too heavy but still very creamy and flavorful. I served it over califlower rice. This is my 4th recipe from Natasha and they have all been incredible and as good as decribed plus easy to make.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 29, 2019

      Thats so awesome Kathy! Thank you for sharing that awesome review and feedback with me!

      Reply

  • Amanda
    August 28, 2019

    Hi, I plan on making this gorgeous looking dish over the weekend. I have a question re the casserole dish, I have the same LC one you have used, can I use the lid it came with rather than using foil to bake it? Thanks!

    Reply

  • Suzanne
    August 26, 2019

    I love to cook and have been feeling so uninsipred lately. This was so worth the effort. My husband dug in and said it was f*****n yum! it really was and i will definitely make it again…and again

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 27, 2019

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

      Reply

  • lana
    August 20, 2019

    This looks so delicious. I never made this but hope to really soon. I was wondering if you have any recipes of podlivu or zajarku? Like so it can go along with anything.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 20, 2019

      Hi Lana, we have a few great recipes for gravy here. We have a few more recipes you may enjoy following this link here.

      Reply

    • Lynn
      August 21, 2019

      Could left over chicken work for this recipe? I thought perhaps adding the chicken for the last 15 minutes of cook time.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 21, 2019

        Hi Lynn, I imagine that will work. I haven’t tried it that way but one of my readers, Peggy, left a super helpful review about just that! “I made your chicken and mushroom casserole and used a rotisserie chicken.

        Reply

    • Mary Jean Rapoll
      September 6, 2019

      Can you freeze the dish before you bake it? I saw it mentioned you can freeze, but I assume it been baked and frozen as a leftover. I am thinking it would be great to prepare it and freeze it for future use. Please advise. Thanks! Ki

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 6, 2019

        Hi Mary, I haven’t tried freezing before so I cannot advise on that but one of my readers, Nancy writes: “…I make a big recipe & freeze in portions for 2. If freezing, make sure you use Half & Half or whole milk or else it separates when reheating.”
        I hope that helps.

        Reply

        • Mary Jean
          September 6, 2019

          Thanks so much. I think I will bake it first just to be safe. This recipe is glorious! My husband practically licked the plate. Definitely a worthy addition to my repertoire. Will try it for company also, and I’m sure it will be a big hit!

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            September 6, 2019

            That’s so awesome, Mary!! Thank you for sharing that with me!

      • Shazia
        October 7, 2019

        Hi Natasha, What kind of rice I can serve with this or any other suggestion. Thanks.

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          October 7, 2019

          I haven’t experimented with rice in the recipe, except serving the recipe over rice. Rice will absorb some liquid in the dish so you might have to adjust liquid amounts.

          Reply

  • Barbara
    August 14, 2019

    Absolutely loved this dish and so did my husband who is a bit fussy. Will definitely make again and am freezing the other part of tonight’s dinner. Am trying another one of your recipes ASAP, the paprika shrimp I think.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 14, 2019

      That sounds amazing! I love that this recipe makes enough for left overs.

      Reply

  • Bev
    August 13, 2019

    I have made this. It is sooo good!!! As for freezing leftovers – it freezes well in Ziplock bag, reheat in microwave on rice or mashed potatoes. Still tastes delicious!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      August 13, 2019

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

      Reply

  • Chelsie
    July 23, 2019

    Have you tried to turn this into an instant pot recipe!? I love this dish but don’t have the time to make it much anymore and would love it in the instant pot! ❤️

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 23, 2019

      Hi Chelsie, I checked the comments and it doesn’t look like anyone has tried that. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

      Reply

  • Eleanor Bingley
    July 14, 2019

    could you add some red and green peppers

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 15, 2019

      Hi Eleanor. I haven’t tested that but if you experiment I would love to know how you like that!

      Reply

  • Craig
    July 6, 2019

    Needed to desperately add a nice creamy chicken dish to my limited recipe repertoire….just happened to stumble on this one searching the net. WOW…turned out perfect first time ( and I’m a dad 🙂 , The flavour and tenderness of the chicken is perfect. The kids and wife were very impressed. You have an instant fan here, can’t wait to try your other recipes. Thanks from Sydney Australia.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 6, 2019

      That is the best when kids love what we parents make. That’s so great!

      Reply

  • Coralie
    July 4, 2019

    Does this recipe freeze well.?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      July 4, 2019

      Hi Coralie, This should help: one of my readers, Terri, shared that it does work to freeze leftovers: “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. Frankly, I think Round Two tastes just as delicious, if not slightly better, than Round One! The one change I made: I took the foil off the last 15 minutes of cooking time so the top of everything got just a little crispy and golden. Delicious!”

      Reply

  • Barb Wellens
    June 28, 2019

    This looks so delicious! Could I use coconut flour to cut down on the carbs?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      June 28, 2019

      Hi Barb, I haven’t tried coconut flour so I can’t speak to that specifically but my sister tested this with GF all-purpose flour and it worked great.

      Reply

  • Vicky
    June 20, 2019

    This dish, with mashed potatoes and home pickled tomatoes, were absolutely incredible!! Brought so many childhood memories 🙂 Thank you for an awesome recipe!!

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 21, 2019

      Aww that’s the best! I love when food brings back sweet childhood memories!

      Reply

  • April
    June 14, 2019

    I was wondering (if I was serving someone who is gluten intolerant) would you recommend corn starch or arrowroot starch instead of flour?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 14, 2019

      Hi April, I haven’t tested it that way but if you are looking for a gluten free option, my sister has tested this with gluten free flour with great results.

      Reply

  • Stephen C Pudlock
    June 4, 2019

    Hi Natasha… i’m in the process of making this recipe for dinner tonight and just now saw the Dutch oven note…. we just got a 6.5 quart Le Creuset “French” oven and was planning on using it. I was curious what does not come out right? I was going to do all the sautéing in it and make the sauce in another pan before loading it into the oven for the 45 minute bake time. I’ll let you know how it come out. BTW we christened our French oven with your lamb stew recipe about 3 weeks ago…. it was great.

    Please advise when you can

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 5, 2019

      Hi Stephen, we haven’t had any issues with that so I cannot advise on specifics. I hope you love this recipe.

      Reply

      • Stephen Pudlock
        June 5, 2019

        The Creamy Chicken Casserole was great. I strayed a little by deglazing the pot with 4 oz of Chardonnay we had and because I was trying to control the salt content added some tarragon at the end before it went in the oven. The Le Creuset French/dutch oven worked great. Could share a photo of the finished product in the pot if it matters.

        Thanks

        Best regards

        Stephen

        Reply

        • Natashas Kitchen
          June 5, 2019

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

          Reply

  • Lillya
    May 21, 2019

    I use portabellas instead of white mushrooms. I also love putting it in the crock pot after everything is combined (according to the recipe) on the stove top.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      May 21, 2019

      That sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing that Liliya!

      Reply

  • Steve
    April 21, 2019

    Made this today for Easter dinner. followed the directions exactly as described, and it came out fabulous.
    Everyone raved about the flavors and tenderness of the chicken. I kept the salt to a minimum, and it was still super delicious. Thank you for posting this recipe.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 21, 2019

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review Steve!

      Reply

  • wendy Kooi
    April 14, 2019

    Made as directed. Hubby came home and asked what was I cooking smelled so good. Told me the Neighbors were lined up, he could smell it from the driveway. Of course that was a joke. Sure glad I came across your blog!!Thank you

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 14, 2019

      That’s just awesome!! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review

      Reply

    • Bob
      October 12, 2019

      is there any dairy-free substitutions that would work instead of half and half

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 12, 2019

        Hi Bob, , 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

  • John
    April 11, 2019

    How about doubling the sauce and adding small dumplings.Do you think this would work?

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 11, 2019

      Hi John, I haven’t tested that but I think that could work! If you experiment please let me know how you like that!

      Reply

  • Sandra
    March 20, 2019

    Could you use Greek yogurt instead of cream etc???

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 20, 2019

      HI Sandra, I haven’t tried that so I can’t advise. Here is what one of our readers wrote, I hope it helps “Made this the other night, actually, a double recipe because it looked soooo good…. I wasn’t disappointed. Because we wanted it served over pasta, (No Yolks Egg Noodles worked beautifully), I made it a little saucier by doubling, (or would it be quadrupling by now), the liquids. Also, to lighten it up, I substituted the half and half with milk and plain Greek yogurt. Came out so rich you’d never miss it! My husband has eaten it 4 times in two days! Great recipe.”

      Reply

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