Nixon Chicken Recipe
If you love a creamy cheesy chicken broccoli casserole you just might have something in common with Richard Nixon! This easy dinner is rumored to have been the presidents favorite dinners earning it the nickname Nixon’s chicken casserole.
I have a love for vintage recipes, whether it is one from my Grandma’s recipe box or out of my collection of old church and school cookbooks (remember the ones that were typed up and bound together to sell for fundraisers?) I find that there are a lot of classic easy to make and delicious recipes in those books.
Maybe it is my love for those old recipes, or the fact that I am from the mid-west where a creamy cheesy casserole made with cream of something soup is a staple at family gatherings but when I came across this recipe for Richard Nixon’s Chicken Casserole I thought it sounded simple and delicious! The fact that it is rumored to be the Nixon family recipe is pretty fun too!
Like many classic casseroles this recipe uses simple ingredients, nothing fancy or hard to find. It comes together in minutes making it a great meal for busy weeknights.
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FAQ & Tips for this Nixon Chicken Recipe
What to serve with Nixon Chicken-
This casserole can be served by itself because it combines your meat and vegetables all in one. But to round out the meal you can serve it with rice, noodles, rolls, or even stuffing. I also like to serve it with a nice fresh side salad to balance the heavy creaminess of the casserole.
How to store Nixon Chicken-
This chicken can be stored refrigerated in an airtight container. It keeps well for 3-4 days. If we have a lot leftover I like to wrap the casserole dish in plastic wrap and pop the whole thing in the fridge.
Can this be made ahead?
Absolutely! I love this recipe for meal prep because you can assemble it, wrap the casserole dish with plastic wrap or foil and just pop it in the oven when you are ready to bake it. It can also be made ahead and frozen which makes it a great dish to make and take to someone who has had a baby, death in the family, or just to have a premade meal for busy days. If you are freezing it you can wrap the casserole dish in a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil to keep it fresh. If you are making it to share you can use a disposable pan.
If you make it ahead and store in the fridge you can store it for 1-2 days before cooking. Just follow the recipes baking direction when you are ready to cook.
You can freeze the casserole for 2-3 months if it is wrapped well. When you are ready to cook you can thaw it in the fridge overnight before cooking or you can bake it at 375 covered for 45 minutes, and then uncovered an additional 30-45 minutes or until it is fully heated and golden brown.
Ingredients for Nixon Chicken
Cooked Shredded Chicken Breast- If I’m making chicken just for this recipe I like to season my chicken breasts with a little salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. This is also a great recipe for using leftover chicken. Another great shortcut is using rotisserie chicken! You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer them.
Eggs- These help to bind the casserole together, use fresh large eggs for best results.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese– You can use pre-shredded cheese to make this a super quick recipe, but if you have time I recommend freshly shredded cheese because it melts and become creamier. You can use sharp cheddar or mild cheddar cheese depending on your preference.
Mayonnaise– Make sure to use real mayo not salad dressing for this recipe. If you don’t like mayonnaise you can swap it out for sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
Cream of Mushroom Soup– If you don’t like mushrooms you can use a different cream soup for this recipe. Cream of chicken soup is a great option or cream of broccoli will work well too.
Broccoli– For this casserole you use steamed broccoli florets, you can use fresh or frozen broccoli, steam and drain it before adding to the casserole. If you prefer the broccoli in your casserole to be a little crunchier you can add raw fresh broccoli, it will cook as the casserole cooks and stay a little bit firm.
Onion- Make sure to finely chop your onion for this recipe so that it can disperse well throughout the dish. You can also grate the onion if you prefer even smaller pieces.
Here’s How to Make this Nixon Chicken Casserole
Preheat the oven to 375 and butter or use non stick cooking spray in a 9×13 casserole dish.
In a large bowl stir together the eggs, mayo and cream of chicken soup until well blended.
Add in the chopped onion, 1 cup of the shredded cheese, and shredded chicken, stir to combine until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce mixture.
Evenly spread the broccoli across the bottom of your prepared baking pan.
Pour the chicken and sauce mixture evenly across the broccoli.
Spread the remaining cup of cheddar cheese across the top of the chicken.
Place the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve warm, store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.
Nixon Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Casserole Dish
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Cooked Shredded Chicken Breast
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese divided
- 1 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 10.5 oz Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 3 Cups Steamed Broccoli
- 2 Tbsp Finely Chopped Onion
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 and butter or use non stick cooking spray in a 9×13 casserole dish.
- In a large bowl stir together the eggs, mayo and cream of mushroom soup until well blended2 Eggs, 1 Cup Mayonnaise, 1 10.5 oz Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Add in the chopped onion, 1 cup of the shredded cheese, and shredded chicken, stir to combine until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce mixture.2 Cups Cooked Shredded Chicken Breast, 2 Tbsp Finely Chopped Onion, 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Evenly spread the broccoli across the bottom of your prepared baking pan.3 Cups Steamed Broccoli
- Pour the chicken and sauce mixture evenly across the broccoli.
- Spread the remaining cup of cheddar cheese across the top of the chicken.1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Place the casserole in the oven and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve warm, store any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.
