Nixon Chicken Casserole (From ‘The Watcher’)
After watching Netflix’s new TV show ‘The Watcher’, Nixon chicken casserole suddenly became a hit. Let’s just say that the dish got just part of the glory and popularity of the TV show. So, I suppose you are familiar with the fifth ‘The Watcher’ episode where Peal, a suspicious neighbor, invited Nora to a luncheon for Big Mo. Nora’s task was to bring over the Nixon chicken, but clearly enough, she didn’t know the recipe. Luckily for Nora and us, Pearl shared her recipe, and here it is!
Is Nixon chicken casserole a real dish?
Since you probably learned about this meal when reading about it in ‘The Watcher’, you may wonder if this dish existed before the TV show. The answer is yes! Nixon’s Chicken Meal is not Netflix’s invention, but rather, it is a recipe that originates from Richard Nixon’s family.
Back in the early ’70s, it was not odd for the newspaper to publish the recipes created by the presidential family. And Nixon chicken casserole recipe is one of them.
How to make Nixon chicken casserole?
To make Nixon chicken, you just need to follow a few simple steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F (220 °C).
- Remove the bones with a sharp knife if you use chicken drumsticks or thighs. You do that by slowly cutting the meat around the bones. Don’t worry if some meat remains on the bones because you can use them to make a delicious chicken broth later. Moreover, you can use chicken breasts and skip all that trouble.
- When you remove the bones, cut the chicken into pieces. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it, and pour about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over it, just to make it easier to spread the spices.
- Pour some vegetable oil into a pan over high heat. When the pan is warm, put in the chicken. Bake the chicken for a few minutes while constantly stirring. It should only get some brown dots like it is baked. That’s why Nora said: “Brown some boneless chicken.” Chicken, however, doesn’t have to be fully baked because you will bake the chicken in the oven, too.
- In another bowl, cook broccoli pieces for 10 minutes.
- When the broccoli is done, mix everything in a casserole dish. So, mix half-cooked broccoli, chicken, and a can of mushroom soup in the casserole dish. Sprinkle Cheddar or Gouda cheese over everything, and place it in the oven for 25 to 35 minutes.
- You can also make this dish by adding half-cooked pasta like I did. You can also mix in some peas or pieces of bacon. Feel free to play with the ingredients and enjoy!
Is Nixon chicken casserole as good as the TV show?
I don’t remember when was the last time I had such an urge to binge-watch some TV show. But Netflix finally did it! Not only that, I had to read everything about the true story behind it and articles about ‘The Watcher’s ending.
Nixon chicken casserole shared by Nora is great! Almost good as the TV show. But, who am I to judge? Just follow the recipe and let me know your thoughts.
Nixon Chicken Casserole (From The Watcher)
Ingredients
- 6 pieces Chicken Thighs
- 1 can Mushroom Soup
- 1½ cup Broccoli pieces
- 1 cup Grated Cheddar
- Salt and Pepper
- 1½ cup Pasta
- 3 tbsp Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F (220 °C).
- Remove the bones using a sharp knife. You do that by slowly cutting the meat around the bones.
- When you remove the bones, cut the chicken into pieces. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it, and pour about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over it, just to make it easier to spread the spices.
- Pour some vegetable oil into a pan over high heat. When the pan is warm, put in the chicken. Bake the chicken for a few minutes while constantly stirring. It should only get some brown dots like it is baked. Chicken, however, doesn't have to be fully baked because you will bake the chicken in the oven, too.
- In another bowl, cook broccoli pieces for 10 minutes.
- When the broccoli is done, you need to mix everything in a casserole dish. So, mix half-cooked broccoli, chicken, and a can of mushroom soup in the casserole dish. Sprinkle Cheddar or Gouda cheese over everything, and place it in the oven for 25 to 35 minutes.
- You can also make this dish by adding half-cooked pasta like I did. You can also mix in some peas or pieces of bacon. Feel free to play with the ingredients and enjoy!
