Aunt Mildred’s Chicken Casserole

by Leslie Bennett

When I think about chicken casserole, I always associate it with my sweet Aunt Mildred. She was my dad’s sister, and she lived next door to us when I was growing up. She was a beautiful lady and had such a kind heart.

When my mom’s health was declining, and my dad was doing all the cooking, Aunt Mildred came and knocked on the door one day and handed my dad a chicken casserole she had prepared for them.

I happened to stop by Mom and Dad’s house that day, and my dad wanted me to try it. It tasted really good, so I had my dad get Aunt Mildred’s recipe for me.

Any chicken casserole I had ever tasted until that day was made in a 13x9 inch pan, but Aunt Mildred’s was different. It was made in a smaller, deeper casserole dish. It was so smooth and creamy.

This is the recipe I use now. Aunt Mildred passed away a few years ago, and I am so glad I got her recipe before she died. I made it for dinner—I know she would be proud of me.

• 3-4 chicken breasts (boiled) • 4 tablespoons of butter • 1 can of cream of chicken soup • 1 can of cream of celery soup • 8 ounces of sour cream • salt and pepper to taste • Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing or Ritz crackers (crumbled) • ½ cup of chicken broth

• Boil chicken breasts and let cool • Tear chicken apart • Take ½ cup of chicken broth from pan and set aside • Melt butter in casserole dish • Combine the soups and cream cheese in a bowl, salt and pepper to taste • Put half of the chicken in the butter in the casserole dish • Put half of the soup mixture on top of the chicken • Put the other half of the chicken on top of that and add the rest of the soup mixture • Top with cornbread stuffing or crumbled Ritz crackers • Pour chicken both over the top • Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 35 minutes until the top is golden brown

I like to serve my casserole with green beans and mashed potatoes. This makes a great meal, along with the following Scripture, to share with those who have lost a loved one. “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3, NIV).