Alright, let’s talk about this here chicken and sausage bake. My grandbaby showed me this thing on the internet, some kinda fancy pasta dish they call “Creamy Cajun Chicken and Sausage Pasta.” Sounded like a mouthful, so I figured, let’s make it simple, make it a bake. Us old folks, we like things easy and filling, ya know?
First off, you gotta get yourself some chicken. Now, don’t go buying them fancy pre-cut pieces. Get a whole chicken, if you can. Cheaper that way. Then you cut it up yourself. Legs, thighs, breasts… the whole shebang. If you ain’t got a whole chicken, them pre-cut pieces will do, I guess. Just make sure they ain’t too small, you want some meat to chew on!
Next up, sausage. I like the spicy kind, gives it a little kick. But if you got kids or folks who can’t handle the heat, get the mild ones. Or, you know what? Get both! Mix it up a bit. That’s what I do sometimes. Cut them sausages into pieces, about this big… holds up thumb Yeah, about thumb-sized.
- Chicken – Cut it up good, not too small.
- Sausage – Spicy or mild, your choice. Cut ‘em thumb-sized.
- Veggies – Onions, peppers, whatever you got in the fridge.
Now, for the veggies. Onions, gotta have onions. Chop ‘em up, not too fine, not too chunky. Just right. And peppers, I like the colorful ones, makes the dish look pretty. Green, red, yellow… Whatever you got growing in your garden, or whatever’s on sale at the store. You can throw in some other stuff too, if you want. Mushrooms, zucchini… Clean out that fridge, I say! Waste not, want not.
Okay, so you got your chicken, sausage, and veggies all chopped up. Now, get a big ol’ pan. The biggest one you got. Toss everything in there. Chicken, sausage, veggies… all of it. Then, you gotta season it up. Salt, pepper, garlic powder… I like to add a little paprika too, gives it a nice color and a little smoky flavor. Don’t be shy with the seasonings, now. Food gotta have flavor!
Now, here’s the secret ingredient… cream of mushroom soup. Yeah, I know, sounds kinda weird, but trust me on this. It makes everything creamy and delicious. Just dump a couple of cans in there. Mix it all up good, make sure everything is coated in that creamy goodness. You can add a little milk or chicken broth too, if it’s too thick. You want it kinda saucy, ya know?
Baking time! Cover that pan with foil, stick it in the oven. How long? Well, that depends on your oven. Mine’s old and cranky, so it takes a while. I usually bake it for about an hour, then take the foil off and bake it for another half hour, so it gets nice and brown on top. You’ll know it’s done when the chicken is cooked through and the sausage is browned. And the whole house smells amazing, that’s a good sign too.
While that’s baking, you can cook up some rice or pasta to go with it. I like rice, myself. Plain white rice, nothing fancy. Just a good ol’ side dish to soak up all that creamy sauce. But if you’re a pasta person, go ahead and cook up some pasta. Whatever you like.
And that’s it! Chicken and sausage bake, easy as pie. It ain’t fancy, but it’s good, honest food. Fills you up and warms you up. Perfect for a cold night, or any night, really. My grandkids, they love it. Even the picky ones! And that’s saying something, let me tell you. So go ahead, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed. And if you are… well, don’t come complaining to me! I just told you how to make it, I didn’t say I was a fancy chef or nothin’.
Now, go on, get cookin’! And don’t forget to wash your hands before you eat. That’s important. My mama always told me that.
And one more thing, this here bake, it’s good for leftovers too. Just stick it in the fridge and heat it up the next day. Tastes even better sometimes, after all them flavors had a chance to mingle together. Just make sure you heat it up good and hot, nobody wants to eat cold chicken and sausage. That ain’t right.
Alright, I think I’ve said enough. Go on, get outta here and make this bake. You won’t regret it. And if you do… well, like I said, don’t come complainin’ to me! I’m just an old lady tryin’ to share a good recipe.
Tags: chicken recipe, sausage recipe, easy bake, casserole, dinner recipe, comfort food, family meal, one-pan meal, oven bake, hearty meal