After-Practice Recipe

Post-Practice Chicken Noodle Casserole

A creamy chicken and noodle casserole bakes ahead and freezes beautifully, so a warm, cracker-topped scoop is waiting after the longest practices.

IngredientsTimingStoragefreezer
Comic-book style illustration of hungry kids coming home from practice to a fast hot dinner for Post-Practice Chicken Noodle Casserole.

Reheat dinner

The creamy chicken noodle casserole you bake on Sunday and reheat all week.

It is the kind of night where you have nothing left to give the stove.

A casserole built earlier slides into the oven or microwave and comes out bubbly and golden, the soft landing a long day needs.

Ingredients

Use the list for post-practice chicken noodle casserole when you need serves 6 and a manageable 10 minutes to finish (plus earlier baking) cook.

  • 12 oz egg noodles, cooked and drained
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 2 cans (10.5 oz each) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 cups frozen peas and carrots
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar
  • 1/2 cup buttery cracker crumbs

How to Make It

Cook post-practice chicken noodle casserole until the decision work is over, then leave only serving work for later.

  • Heat the oven to 375F and butter a 9x13 dish.
  • Stir together the noodles, chicken, soup, milk, peas and carrots, and 1 cup of the cheese.
  • Spread it into the dish, then top with the rest of the cheese and the cracker crumbs.
  • Bake 25 minutes until bubbly and golden. Let it sit 5 minutes before serving.

Do the Slow Part Early

Assemble the casserole earlier so you can bake or reheat it fast after practice.

  • Build the full dish in the afternoon and keep it chilled, ready to bake
  • Or freeze it ahead and thaw overnight in the fridge
  • Cook and shred the chicken in the morning or use rotisserie

Store and Reheat

Creamy casseroles dry at the edges, so add milk and cover them when reheating.

  • Microwave a portion 2 to 3 minutes with a splash of milk, covered
  • Or reheat the dish at 350F for 20 minutes under foil
  • Keeps 4 days in the fridge or 2 months frozen
  • Serve with: steamed green beans, dinner rolls, applesauce

Parent Tip

This one freezes beautifully, so make two and stash one for the next late night.

Make It Fit Tonight

Small Tweaks That Help This Dinner Land

Use cream of mushroom

Swaps in for a slightly earthier, deeper sauce.

Add broccoli

Stir in a cup of chopped broccoli for more green.

Make it turkey

Leftover turkey works great in place of chicken.

Top with stuffing

Crushed stuffing mix instead of crackers gives a savory crust.

Pack tomorrow's lunch

A reheated scoop stays warm in a thermos until lunch.

Plan The Next Step

Make two, freeze one

Use the planner to schedule freezer-friendly bakes like this so a future late night is already handled.

Make two, freeze one