Southern Baked Chicken Casserole

Submitted by Gretchen T.

keyingredient.com

• 
  Yield: 8.00 servings
• Cook time: 105 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 celery rib, finely chopped
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups milk
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• Tabasco
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
• ½ cup finely chopped pimentos (from a 4-ounce jar)
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (4 ounces)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, melt the butter in the oil. Add the onion, bell pepper and celery and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the milk and whisk until combined. Simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Season the mixture with salt, pepper and Tabasco. Remove from the heat and stir in the mayonnaise, chicken and pimentos.

Transfer the chicken mixture to a 1 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Scatter the crushed crackers on top. Bake for about 45 minutes, until the casserole is golden and bubbling. Let rest for 15 minutes before serving.