Chicken Recipes Perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner

Turkey is well known as the food of Thanksgiving but some families may not have means to cook a large bird. Chicken can offer the alternative to the turkey as the main course and still allow for the traditional meal items. Chicken is versatile and can be prepared in a number of ways. Even folks without a regular sized oven can prepare a chicken casserole in a toaster oven, or make a chicken casserole in a crockpot. The following recipes can be used for a Thanksgiving dinner in place of a standard turkey meal. Add a few typical Thanksgiving side dishes with these and your holiday meal will be a special one.

Two Crockpot Chicken casseroles my family love :

Crockpot Chicken Stuffing

1 whole chicken, cooked, boned, and chopped
Corn bread stuffing mix , 1 box
1 large onion, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
One can cream of mushroom soup
1 15 oz can chicken broth
1 to 1½ teaspoons poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces

Cook chicken, remove from bones and chop.
Grease your crock pot with butter
Combine the chicken, stuffing mix, onion, eggs, soup, broth, and seasonings in a bowl; Mix gently.
Place mixture in crock pot. Top with the butter.
Cook on High for 3 hours. Do not remove lid during cooking time.

Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli

6 boneless -- skinless chicken breast halves
1 small box Stuffing mix (use dry mix)
1 10 ounce chopped broccoli thawed
1 can cream of broccoli soup (can use cream of mushroom)
1/2 cup chicken broth
Lightly butter a crockpot and place the chicken in the bottom.
Mix together the remaining ingredients and place on top of chicken.
Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours. Serves 4-6

The following two casseroles can be made in your toaster oven. The recipes call for 9X13. You can prepare this in two smaller casserole dishes. If you have a small family, you may choose to cook one and freeze one for later. Check the casseroles at the completion time, but most likely you will need to cook a little longer when doing these in a toaster oven. Individual ovens cook at a varying speed so make sure you watch the dishes carefully.

Wonderful Chicken Casserole (Mix the night before)

2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
3 cups milk
1/2 pound cheddar cheese, shredded
Mix all ingredients in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
Refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake at 350 for one hour.

Chicken and Hash Brown Casserole

1 2lb. bag shredded hash brown potatoes
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups chopped chicken
1 8 oz. sour cream
2 cups shredded cheddar
salt and pepper
1 stick butter
Crushed crackers

Mix hash browns, soup, chicken, sour cream, salt and pepper. Dot with butter and then sprinkle crushed crackers on top. Bake at 350°F for about 50-55 minutes, until bubbly and brown.

Remember, Thanksgiving is a special meal and even if you don't have the means for a large turkey meal you can make the day special by adding one of the chicken dishes above.