Okay, so, “no cheese casserole,” right? Let me tell you, this came about because I was staring into my fridge the other day, feeling totally uninspired. You know those days? Like, you want something comforting, but you’re also kinda over the usual cheesy overload.
First, I rummaged around and found some leftover cooked chicken – about two cups, shredded. Score! Then I spotted a bunch of veggies that were looking a little sad: half an onion, a bell pepper, and some broccoli florets. Time to rescue them!
I chopped the onion and bell pepper and sautéed them in a pan with some olive oil. Just until they were soft and starting to get a little color. Then I tossed in the broccoli and cooked it for a couple more minutes, just to take the raw edge off.
Now, for the sauce. Since we’re going cheese-free, I decided to go with a creamy cashew sauce. I soaked about a cup of raw cashews in hot water for like, half an hour, to soften them up. Then I drained them and threw them into my blender with some vegetable broth, a squeeze of lemon juice, a clove of garlic, some salt, and pepper. Blended it all up until it was super smooth and creamy. Taste-tested it, added a little more salt, and bam! Perfect.
Next, I grabbed a baking dish – a standard 9×13 inch one. I threw the cooked veggies and chicken into the dish and gave it a good mix. Then I poured the cashew sauce over everything, making sure it was evenly coated.
To add a little something extra on top, I made a quick breadcrumb topping. I just tossed some breadcrumbs with a little olive oil, dried herbs (Italian seasoning works great), and a pinch of salt. Sprinkled that all over the top of the casserole.
Finally, I baked it in a preheated oven at 375°F (about 190°C) for about 20-25 minutes, until the topping was golden brown and the casserole was bubbly around the edges.
And that’s it! “No cheese casserole.” It was surprisingly good! Creamy, comforting, and not at all boring. The cashew sauce totally made it. I think next time, I might add some mushrooms or some different veggies, but overall, it was a win!
