Description
A comforting and cheesy potato chicken bake featuring tender chicken pieces, diced russet potatoes, and a creamy blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, seasoned with smoky spices and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that satisfies with minimal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
Potatoes
- 4 medium russet potatoes, diced
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Others
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Season Potatoes: In a large bowl, toss the diced russet potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, half the salt, half the black pepper, and dried parsley until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Pre-bake Potatoes: Spread the seasoned potatoes evenly in the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to start cooking and crisping them.
- Season Chicken: While potatoes are baking, season the chicken pieces with the remaining salt and black pepper along with a small drizzle of olive oil, tossing to coat.
- Add Chicken and Cream: After 20 minutes, remove the baking dish from the oven and stir the potatoes for even roasting. Then, layer the seasoned chicken pieces evenly over the partially cooked potatoes. Pour the heavy cream evenly over the chicken and potatoes to create a creamy sauce.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese evenly over the entire casserole. Return the baking dish to the oven and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), the potatoes are tender, and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the dish set for easier portioning and enhanced flavor melding.
Notes
- You can substitute Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese for added spice and flavor variety.
- Add cooked bacon pieces for extra smokiness and texture.
- Yukon gold potatoes can be used instead of russet for a creamier texture.
