Description
This Chicken Bruschetta Casserole combines the savory flavors of garlic herb cream cheese, tender shredded chicken, and fresh tomato basil bruschetta atop crispy everything bagel pieces, all baked together under a melted mozzarella crust for a comforting and flavorful meal.
Ingredients
Base
- 4 everything bagels, cut into bite-sized pieces
Cream Cheese Mixture
- ½ cup herb and garlic cream cheese
- ½ cup 18% cream
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (approximately 2 medium-sized chicken breasts)
Bruschetta Topping
- 2 cups Roma tomatoes, diced, seeds and juice removed
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons basil pesto
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
Cheese Topping
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Prepare Bagel Base: Cut the everything bagels into bite-sized pieces and spread them evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. This forms a crunchy, flavorful crust layer.
- Make Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the herb and garlic cream cheese with the 18% cream, whisking continuously until there are no lumps and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add Chicken: Stir in the shredded cooked chicken into the cream cheese mixture until all pieces are thoroughly coated. Remove the saucepan from heat to prevent overcooking.
- Prepare Bruschetta Topping: In a small bowl, mix together the diced Roma tomatoes (with seeds and juice removed), red onion, basil pesto, salt, black pepper, and grated parmesan cheese until well combined.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly over the layer of bagel pieces in the baking dish. Then, spoon the bruschetta topping evenly over the chicken layer.
- Add Mozzarella: Sprinkle the finely grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole for a golden cheesy crust once baked.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. This allows the cheeses to melt, and the flavors to meld together beautifully.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before cutting into portions and serving. Enjoy your delicious Chicken Bruschetta Casserole!
Notes
- For easier shredding, poach or bake chicken breasts before cooking to keep them tender and juicy.
- Removing seeds and juices from tomatoes prevents the casserole from becoming too watery.
- Feel free to substitute the bagels with bread cubes or ciabatta for a different texture.
- You can add extra herbs like fresh basil or oregano on top before baking for enhanced aroma.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated; bake at 350°F for 15 minutes to warm through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
