Chicken and barley casserole

Our healthy chicken casserole recipe provides comfort in a bowl

13 ratings

45 minutes
Serves 4
1.5 of 5 a day

Nutrition: Per serving

Kcal327
Fat3.2g
Salt0.2g
Sugar4.2g

Recipe by: Charlie Farrant | Student Dietitian and Running Blogger

This winter warmer is perfect for a cosy Sunday evening or a weekday dinner after a long day. You could use leftover roast chicken instead of chicken breasts.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
2 leeks, finely sliced
2 celery sticks, roughly chopped
1 clove garlic, finely diced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
200g pearl barley
500ml reduced-salt chicken stock
500ml boiling water
3 chicken breasts, roughly chopped
Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and cook the carrot, leek and celery for 10 minutes or until softened.
Add the garlic, rosemary and bay leaf and cook for 1 minute.
Add the pearl barley and cook for a further minute.
Stir in the stock and boiling water. Bring to the boil, add the chicken, then cover the pan and simmer for 25–30 minutes until the barley is tender and the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the bay leaf. Add some freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

Top tip: this dish works with a variety of vegetables including cabbage, peas or butternut squash – whatever you have in the fridge or is in season!