Recipe Background
Dixie Bake is a cozy, cheesy dish rich with garlic aroma and subtle spice.
Dixie Bake is the sort of dish that gathers friends and family like no other. As you lift it from the oven, the aroma of roasted garlic mingles with bubbling cheese, promising comfort and satisfaction. This bake marries the rich tang of sour cream with a smooth cheese sauce, coating every curl of egg noodle. Each bite is a delightful blend of savory chicken and subtle spice from red pepper flakes, hitting just the right warming note.
Colorful flecks of red pepper and golden cheese create a feast for the eyes. Sautéing the onion until just translucent draws out its sweetness, laying the foundation for a deeply flavor-packed sauce. This quick step enhances the overall aroma as the onions meld with earthy garlic and spicy pepper.
Share this dish straight from the oven, allowing a short cool down for better serving ease—this brief wait is just enough to let the layers settle, making for a satisfying, clean slice. Then, enjoy the pleased smiles of those gathered around as they dig into this cozy offering. Dixie Bake isn't just tasty; it’s a warm, inviting experience ready to be shared.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 3 cups cheddar cheese grated, divided
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 2 cups chicken cooked and shredded
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 4 cups egg noodles cooked (approximately 2 cups uncooked)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large, tall-sided saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Add the onion and sauté until nearly translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stirring frequently, add the garlic and the red pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in the flour and cook until the flour is absorbed and no longer smells raw, about 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly add the milk and 2 cups of the cheese.
- Once the cheese is melted, add the salt and the pepper.
- Fold the chicken, the sour cream, the cream of celery soup, and the cooked noodles into the cheese mixture, stirring until all of the noodles are coated.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Top the mixture with the remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes.
- Transfer the bake from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
- Serve.
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