Chicken & Dressing Casserole, Quick 'n Easy Comfort Food

Slivered water chestnuts add a "just right" crunch to this chicken and dressing dish plus a little sprinkle of cheese makes everything just right!

What a week, and I can't tell you or even think why.....but I don't feel like I've gotten much done! There was my first "senior physical" and all of the tests that go with that.  Guess that ate up a couple of days.  The weather was cold. gloomy, and windy too.  That made for me looking for a fast comfort meal.  I had noticed a recipe in "Maturity Journal" a local old folks magazine.  I adapted what I can recall and came up with this quick one dish comfort meal.  Pair with a lettuce salad and fresh baked brownies for a complete Friday night comfort feast.   thehiddenpantry.blogspot.com/2012/10/homemade-brownie-mix-and-walnut-brownies.html  

Ingredients for Quick Chicken & Dressing Casserole:

1 box chicken stove top stuffing
1 can sliced water chestnuts
4 T. soft butter
1 1/2 C. hot tap water
1 undiluted cream of chicken soup
3 C. boned cooked diced chicken, skin removed
1 jar chicken gravy
1/2 C. shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter an eight inch square casserole dish and set aside.

Spread the cream of chicken soup evenly in the bottom of the prepared dish.  Drain the water chestnuts and slice the slices into 3 or 4 strips each, about the size of slivered almonds.  Place the stuffing mix in a medium bowl and add the butter, water, and chestnuts.  Stir well to combine and set aside while you distribute the chicken evenly across the cream of chicken layer.

Top the chicken with the dressing, spreading it evenly to cover.  Pour the chicken gravy over the stuffing to cover and sprinkle evenly with the shredded cheese.  This can be made ahead and refrigerated or bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes.  Yield 4-5 servings.