WHAT'S COOKING Cass County

Hello world, or part of it. Since Texas is in Phase II of reopening, I figured a casserole may be in order. Whether you are preparing this dish for four or fourteen, you will be ready in case company does drop by. If not, you can always freeze the leftovers, if there are any. Grab those apron strings Cass County, and let’s get to cooking!

Chicken Bacon Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

3 lbs. russet potatoes, 6-7 medium, cut into 1 inch chunks

1/3 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons hot sauce of choice

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1oz. Ranch seasoning packet, divided

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 lbs. boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks

1 cup bacon bits

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Sliced green onions for topping

To Prepare: Preheat oven to 425. Add potato chunks to large mixing bowl, then add oil, hot sauce, garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of the ranch seasoning packet, salt and pepper. Mix well. Make sure oil and seasonings are distributed evenly. With a slotted spoon, add the potatoes to a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Set mixing bowl aside. Roast potatoes in oven for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes for even cooking.

Cut the chicken into 1 inch chunks, add to bowl previously set aside. Add the remainder of the ranch seasoning packet. You may need to add just a tad of oil for proper coverage.

After the potatoes have cooked, remove from oven and give a final stir. Add a layer of bacon bits to the top, and ½ cup of cheese. Place the chicken chunks in a single layer, as much as possible. On top of chicken, add remaining bits of bacon and cheese. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 20 minutes, making sure chicken is cooked through. Serve with any side you like. Enjoy!

We would love to know what you have been cooking through the quarantine. Submit your recipe to rastrutton78@gmail.com. Remember, the best ingredient to put in any recipe is love. See you next week Cass County!