Charlene's Recipe

Cheesy chicken casserole

Category: Casseroles and Skillets

6 chicken breast halves with skin and bone
1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped broccoli
1 cup cream
1 cup half and half mixed with water (1/2 of each)
16 oz Mascarpone cheese
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Early in the day, simmer chicken in water to cover until tender, adding 1 small chopped onion, 1 tsp salt, 1 bay leaf, 2 garlic cloves and 3 celery tops to water. Remove chicken; cool. Discard skin and bones; slice chicken thinly; cover and refrigerate. About 1 hour before serving, cook and drain broccoli as package directs; arrange in bottom of greased 2 quart casserole dish.
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a double boiler, over hot, not boiling water, blend cream, half n half mixture mascarpone, salt and garlic powder until smooth and hot; stir in 3/4 cup Parmesan. Pour 1 cup cream sauce over broccoli; top with chicken in even layer. Cover chicken with rest of sauce; sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until piping hot. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Pass remaining Parmesan at table.
If desired, in last 10 minutes, top with buttered, toasted low carb bread crumbs OR crumbles Lean protein chips.