Cornbread chicken casserole

For the Cornbread:

1 cup yellow cornmeal

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 cup melted butter

For the Chicken Filling:

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup chopped yellow onion

1/2 cup celery, thinly sliced

1 3/4 cup chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 1/2 cups cooked chicken breast, cut in bite-sized pieces

Instructions

Cornbread

Mix all the ingredients for the cornbread except the melted butter together in a mixing bowl until smooth.

Pour the batter into a greased 8-inch square baking pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden and done. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

When the cornbread is cool, crumble all the cornbread and place 3 cups of the cornbread crumbs in a mixing bowl.

Add the 1/2 cup melted butter to crumbs and mix well, set aside.

Chicken Filling

In medium-sized saucepan on medium-low heat, heat the butter and saute the chopped onions and celery until they are transparent, stirring occasionally.

Add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, salt, and pepper. Stir until well blended and the soup is dissolved completely.

Add the cooked chicken; stir and blend until mixture reaches a low simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.

Place the chicken filling in a buttered 2 1/2-quart casserole dish or individual casserole dishes (about four).

Sprinkle the cornbread crumb topping on top of the chicken mixture; do not stir into the chicken filling. It should form a crust over the filling.

Place the baking dish in preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 35 - 40 minutes. The crumbs will turn a golden yellow.

Serve while hot.