Potato, Chicken & Bacon Casserole

     I'm still here, fear not! 

     I missed the boat on Motivational Monday and my Health & Fitness post....but, it is what it is! I'm moving on!

     The dish I'm sharing today is one I often make because it's so simple, and everyone in my house loves it! And any random kids that may be over also seem to like it! Seriously, on 3 different occasions, 3 different girls (6 & 7 year olds) have been over when I've served this for dinner, and each one looked at it like, "eewwwwww".....and then I said, "it's just potatoes, chicken, bacon and cheese", and they were like, "....oh...?" and proceeded to eat everything I gave them. Usually with added ketchup (bleh)-but to each his own!

    The recipe can be easily doubled and made in a larger pan (accommodating extra mouths to feed), and makes great leftovers eaten cold, strait-up reheated, or re-fried in a pan to serve with eggs, or or or, tossed into a few cups of broth/stock and made into soup!        
   

Potato, Chicken & Bacon Casserole


Ingredients:

• 1 Chicken breast, about 1/2 lb (more or less is fine)
• 4 Potatoes, medium sized (I like to use russets or red skins), cut in 1 inch pieces
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 Cup broth/stock (any kind you prefer-I use chicken as it's what I always have!)
• 1/2 Tbsp paprika
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 5 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 Tsp each salt & pepper
• 1 Cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced thin (optional, for garnish)

​Method:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F and grease an 8x8 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or by rubbing butter around it
2. Place the diced chicken and potatoes into the baking dish, then add the olive oil, broth, paprika, garlic powder, salt & pepper and toss/stir to coat
3. Lay out the bacon pieces on top of the chicken & potatoe mixture
4. Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes, until the bacon is crispy and the potatoes are tender
5. Remove from oven, and sprinkle evenly with the cheddar cheese
6. Bake another 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted (adding 3-4 extra minutes under the broiler if desired to get the cheese nice and toasty)
7. Let stand for a few minutes before garnishing with green onion and serving

    And there you have it! Simple, tasty, served with a side salad or even just raw, cut up veggies, and you've got a great meal!

    So......how was March Break? 

    We did well over here; kept busy, had friends over to play and visit, did some crafts, made a lot of cookies and treats, slept in, stayed up late--it's been pretty good! The weather was mostly rainy (thumbs down), but kids quite like mud and puddles, so when it would stop raining they would make the most of the squishy yard and huge puddles! My girls have been turning our chicken coop (which has been vacant all winter) into a "clubhouse", which they would play in even while it was raining too, so that was great! 

    Well, ok. I guess I'm done talking for now! I hope everyone had a great week, a good St. Patrick's Day yesterday, and that you have a good weekend while perhaps going to some St. Patty's Day parties? 

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