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Chicken Potato Casserole! A comforting meal with potatoes, chicken and a dairy-free cream sauce. A simple, wholesome Paleo dinner that's easy to make and Whole30 friendly.
Growing up in Wisconsin, I ate a lot of comfort food. Regular meals to this day include my favorite comfort meals like low calorie chicken pot pie, my healthy chicken parmesan recipe, and healthier tuna noodle casserole!
Classic comfort meals are hearty and always enjoyed at the kitchen table by a lot of people. This low calorie chicken and potato casserole is still comfort food, just made better for you!
Now that I'm older I realize the real reason casseroles were made by mother so often - they're easy! Only one dish to deal with and not a lot of work to assemble or prepare. I firmly believe that's important whether you're feeding a family of 1, 2, 4 or more!
This healthy chicken potato casserole does require a skillet to brown the ground chicken and a mixing bowl but I assure you, it's worth the extra effort! This casserole is so good you'll want to eat if for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It truly is versatile and the ingredients are simple.
Ground chicken, shredded potatoes, spinach and a dairy free cream sauce. I used canned coconut cream, almond milk and broth with a touch of arrowroot powder to thicken the cream.
We are dairy sensitive in my house and I love adding coconut cream as a healthier substitute. The sauce also adds healthy fat to balance out the carbs and protein in this dish. So you'll walk away feeling satisfied and full!
To make the prep work "easier," I browned the meat and added all the ingredients to the dish ahead of time, stored in the refrigerator (up to 2 days) then pulled it out and baked for dinner. Much easier when you split the steps up over a few days.
This creamy chicken potato casserole isn't complicated or fancy. Just a hearty dish with real food ingredients balanced in nutrition. The best part? You would never know how good it was for you because it tastes like real comfort food.
Love casseroles? Try this Paleo Turkey Sweet Potato Casserole and Mexican Quinoa Casserole next!
Chicken Potato Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken breast or any lean protein of choice
- 2.5 cups shredded potatoes thawed
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion diced
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup chicken broth reduced sodium
- 7 ounces coconut cream liquid drained
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 1 teaspoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Grease an 11x7 casserole dish and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the extra virgin olive oil, onions and minced garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Add the ground chicken to the pan with the salt, pepper, thyme, basil and rosemary. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break up the meat as it cooks so it's not clumpy.
- Once the meat is cooked, transfer the contents of the skillet into a large mixing bowl. Add the spinach and stir it in with the meat. It will wilt from the heat. Then add the thawed potatoes to the bowl and stir in.
- Return the skillet to the stovetop and add the almond milk, broth and coconut cream to the skillet. Simmer at a medium heat about 5 minutes until it bubbles.
- Add the arrowroot flour to the mixture and whisk it continuously for 2 minutes to thicken the sauce. Turn off the heat.
- Transfer the meat mixture to the prepared casserole dish then pour the sauce over it. Add the beaten egg over the top of the casserole.
- Bake at 400 F 40-45 minutes uncovered or until the casserole is set in the center.
Notes
- 1 serving is 1 heaping cup
- For Paleo/Whole30, make sure the potatoes you buy are compliant.
Nutrition
I just found your website tonight on YouTube. I was looking for a mayo free coleslaw recipe and saw your short video. Then your website.
I want to make this casserole but have a son who does not like coconut anything. What would be a good low calorie substitute for the coconut cream?
You cannot taste the coconut cream in the recipe at all, but you could try yogurt or blended cottage cheese.