Creamy Smoky Baked Chicken With Ham
"This is a old throw back recipe, re-done, but it can't get simpler. I don't often use soup in my recipes, but I really happen to like this one. Paired with smoky ham, white wine and smoky gouda; or even a smoky mozzarella or smoky white cheddar will work. This combination of the smoky ham and cheese is what really makes this dish. To serve, try a wild white rice blend or even just white rice. I like to add some fresh scallions to finish off the rice."
- Ready In:
- 1hr 10mins
- Ingredients:
- 9
- Yields:
-
4 Chicken Breasts
- Serves:
- 4
ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast (4 breasts)
- 1 cup smoked ham, chopped pretty fine (important to use a smoky ham, this is a key ingredient for this dish. I bought a slice of smoked ham)
- 1 (11 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup, I use the 99% fat free (less salt)
- 1⁄2 cup sour cream (low fat will work, but not the FAT free)
- 1⁄4 cup white wine
- 1 cup smoky gouda cheese, grated (smoky mozzarella or even smoky WHITE cheddar will work)
- 1 teaspoon fresh tarragon (1 tablespoon fresh parsley, fine chopped would be a good substitute, I use more parsley as it is not)
- pepper, fresh ground
- salt
directions
- Chicken -- First and most important, bring your chicken to room temp and season well with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Casserole -- Pick a pan so that all 4 breasts fit well side by side. You want the sauce on the chicken not sitting on the bottom of the pan. Too big of pan does not work well for this dish. Spray with a non stick such as Pam and add your chicken.
- Sauce -- In a small bowl, add the sour cream, soup, white wine and ham and mix well.
- Spoon the sauce over each chicken breast and top with a light sprinkle of black pepper.
- Bake -- Heat the oven to 325 degrees and bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Top with 1/4 cup of the cheese and cook another 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Serve -- I love a mix of wild and white rice (Uncle Bens is great, Whole Foods has a great brown rice, or just any white rice will work. I garnish the rice with fresh scallions (white and green parts) and cooked chicken broth which I think really helps. Then add each breast and any additional sauce over the top. Garnish with the fresh tarragon or you can use parsley. Roasted lemon zucchini is a great side dish.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
SarasotaCook
Sarasota, Florida
<p>Growing up in Michigan, I spent my summers at my cottage in the Northern part up by Traverscity. On a lake, big garden which had all the vegetables you could imagine. My mom taught school, so summers were our vacation time. Gramps and I fished all the time so fresh fish was always on the menu, perch, blue gill, walleye and small and large mouth bass. At age 5 I learned how to clean my own fish and by 10 I was making dinner, canning vegetables and fruits, making pies and fresh breads. Apples fresh picked every fall, strawberries in June and July, Cherries at the Cherry Festival in Traverscity. So fresh foods always were a big part. Mom worked as a teacher during the year so dinner was more traditional with pot roasts, meatloaf, etc, but it seemed we always had fresh fruits and vegetables as part of the meal. Mom also didn't use as many spices as I do, but times were different back then. <br /> <br />So ... My motto is ... There is NO Right and NO Wrong with cooking. So many people thing they have to follow a recipe. But NO ... a recipe is a method and directions to help and teach someone. Cooking is about personal tastes and flavors. I love garlic ... and another person may not. I like heat ... but you may not. Recipes are building blocks, NOT text ground in stone. Use them to make and build on. Even my recipes I don't follow most times --They are a base. That is what cooking is to me. A base of layer upon layer of flavors. <br /> <br />I still dislike using canned soups or packaged gravies/seasoning ... but I admit, I do use them. I have a few recipes that use them. But I try to strive to teach people to use fresh ingredients, they are first ... so much healthier for you ... and second, in the end less expensive. But we all have our moments including me. <br /> <br />So, lets see ... In the past, I have worked as a hostess, bartender, waitress, then a short order cook, salad girl in the kitchen, sort of assistant chef, head chef, co owner of a restaurant ... now a consultant to a catering company/restaurant, I cater myself and I'm a personal chef for a elderly lady. I work doing data entry during the day, and now and then try to have fun which is not very often due to my job(s). <br /> <br />I have a 21 year old who at times is going on 12, aren't they all. Was married and now single and just trying to enjoy life one day at a time. I'm writing a cookbook ... name is still in the works but it is dedicated to those people who never learned, to cook. Single Moms, Dads, or Just Busy Parents. Those individuals that think you can't make a great dinner for not a lot of money. You can entertain on a budget and I want people to know that gourmet tasting food doesn't have to be from a can of soup or a box, and healthy food doesn't come from a drive through. There are some really good meals that people can make which are healthy and will save money but taste amazing. So I guess that is my current goal. We all take short cuts and I have no problem with that - I do it too. I volunteer and make food for the homeless every couple of months, donating my time and money. I usually make soup for them and many times get donations from a local grocery stores, Sams Club, Walmart etc, with broth, and vegetables. It makes my cost very little and well worth every minute I spend. Like anyone, life is always trying to figure things out and do the best we can and have fun some how along the way.</p>
