Savory Sweet and Satisfying: Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes

Thinly sliced potatoes layered with a homemade cheesy sauce topped with chicken, bacon and more cheese. A delicious and comforting casserole.

Cheesy Chicken and Potatoes

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 1/4 cups milk, divided
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
5 medium potatoes
black pepper, to taste
8 slices turkey bacon
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan melt the butter over low heat.
Add in the flour and whisk until smooth and bubbly.
Slowly add in 1 cup milk whisking the entire time. Continue to whisk and bring the mixture to a boil. Whisk until thickened.
Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup cheese until completely melted.
Add in the remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and stir to mix.
Remove 1 cup of cheese sauce and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350º F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Rinse the potatoes and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.
Spread 1/4 of the cheese sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Add a single layer of sliced potatoes and season with black pepper.
Spread another 1/4 of the soup mixture over the potatoes. Again add a single layer of potatoes and season with black pepper.
Top the potatoes with another 1/4 of the cheese sauce. Again add a single layer of potatoes and season with black pepper.
Top potatoes with the remaining 1/4 of the cheese sauce.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
While the potatoes are cooking cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy. Remove the bacon from skillet and set aside to cool, then crumble.
Season the chicken with black pepper and cook in the bacon drippings until lightly browned on both sides. (Do not cook the chicken completely it will finish cooking in the oven.)
Remove the potatoes form the oven and uncover. (If the potatoes are not starting to get tender cover and cook for an additional 10-20 minutes.)
Top the potatoes with chicken and pour reserved 1 cup of cheese sauce over top of the chicken. Cover the baking dish tightly again and cook for an additional 30 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked and potatoes are tender.
Remove the casserole from the oven and uncover.
Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese and crumbled bacon.
Place baking dish back in the oven uncovered and cook until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.