A Year-Round Guide to Franklin and Nantahala

Yield: 4 to 6 servings. 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes 1 whole cooked chicken, skin and bones removed, shredded ½ teaspoon salt, divided ½ teaspoon freshly

Rosemary and Goat Cheese Strata

Yield: 4 to 6 servings. 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes 1 whole cooked chicken, skin and bones removed, shredded ½ teaspoon salt, divided ½ teaspoon freshly

Loaded Potato & Chicken Casserole

Yield: 4 to 6 servings.

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
1 whole cooked chicken, skin and bones removed, shredded
½ teaspoon salt, divided
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
½ teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and cut into pieces
1½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
4 green onions, sliced
1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Spread half of the potatoes in prepared dish. Place shredded chicken evenly on top. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon each of salt, black pepper, and paprika; half of the bacon pieces; ½ cup of the cheese; and half of the green onions.

For the second layer, spread the remaining potatoes on top of the chicken, followed by the remaining bacon, another ½ cup cheese, and another ¼ teaspoon each of salt, black pepper, and paprika. Pour heavy cream over top of casserole. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and green onions, and bake until the cheese forms a slight crust and the center is slightly jiggly. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

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This story was published on Oct 27, 2020

Lynn Wells

Lynn Wells gained a fond respect and interest in cooking from her mother and Aunt Addie at the age of 8 in North Carolina. During college, Wells worked in a wide range of restaurants, from fine dining to family- owned. After graduating from UNC Greensboro with a degree in nutrition management and hospitality, Wells began a 21-year career in the nutrition department at Cone Health. In 2014, Wells started Thyme Well Spent Personal Chef Service, an in-home cooking experience for private clients, which continues today. Wells is also a food writer, food stylist, culinary consultant, and the recipe developer/writer for Our State.