Chicken Bruschetta Casserole: A Beginner-Friendly Delight with Everything Bagels
A hearty casserole with chicken, bruschetta flavors, and everything bagels, perfect for a comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 everything bagels
- ½ cup herb and garlic cream cheese
- ½ cup 18% cream
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 2 cups diced Roma tomatoes (seeds and juice removed)
- ½ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Bagels:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut bagels into bite-sized pieces and spread them evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Arranging the bagels in a single layer ensures even baking and prevents soggy spots. Beginner Note: Cutting the bagels into uniform pieces ensures even baking.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture:
- Place cream cheese and cream in a medium saucepan on medium-low heat and whisk until no lumps remain. Whisking constantly prevents the cream cheese from sticking to the pan and forming lumps, creating a smooth and creamy sauce. Beginner Note: Whisking constantly prevents the cream cheese from sticking to the pan and forming lumps.
- Add Chicken:
- Add the cooked, shredded chicken to the cream cheese mixture and stir until all the chicken is coated. Remove from heat. Ensure the chicken is evenly coated for a consistent flavor throughout the casserole. Beginner Note: Ensure the chicken is evenly coated for a consistent flavor.
- Prepare Bruschetta Topping:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine diced tomatoes, diced red onion, basil pesto, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Mix gently to combine the ingredients without crushing the tomatoes. Beginner Note: Removing the seeds and juice from the tomatoes prevents the casserole from becoming watery.
- Assemble Casserole:
- Spread the chicken and cream cheese mixture evenly over the bagel pieces in the baking dish. Then, top with the bruschetta mixture. Distribute the chicken and bruschetta evenly for balanced flavors in each serving. Beginner Note: Distribute the chicken and bruschetta evenly for balanced flavors in each serving.
- Add Mozzarella Cheese:
- Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the casserole. Finely grated mozzarella melts quickly and evenly, creating a gooey and cheesy topping. Beginner Note: Finely grated mozzarella melts quickly and evenly.
- Bake:
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through. Check for doneness by inserting a fork into the center; the casserole should be hot throughout. Beginner Note: Check for doneness by inserting a fork into the center; the casserole should be hot throughout.
- Cool and Serve:
- Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before cutting and serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly, making it easier to serve and preventing it from falling apart. Beginner Note: This allows the casserole to set slightly, making it easier to serve.
Notes
- Remove tomato seeds to avoid a watery casserole.
- Cut bagels into uniform pieces for even baking.
- Whisk cream cheese until smooth.
- Use cooked, shredded chicken for convenience.
- Grate mozzarella finely for even melting.