Casserole Great One-Dish Meal

“Hush puppy” chicken casserole is a flavorful blend of baked beans, stewed tomatoes, cooked boneless chicken breasts and dilled green beans, topped with corn bread.

Created by Gloria Piantek of Plainsboro, N.J., this recipe was the grand-prize winner in the 1996 One-Dish Family Favorites recipe contest sponsored by S&W Fine Foods Inc.

Hush Puppy Chicken Casserole

8-1/2-ounce box corn muffin mix

1 tablespoon chili powder

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil

16-ounce can oven-baked beans

14-ounce can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 tablespoon smoky barbecue sauce

14-1/2-ounce can dilled green beans, drained

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Prepare corn muffin mix to batter stage, according to package directions. Set aside.

Sprinkle chili powder on chicken chunks; toss with fork to coat well.

Heat oil in large skillet. Saute chicken chunks over medium heat, stirring frequently until opaque; drain fat. Reduce heat. Stir in baked beans, stewed tomatoes, barbecue sauce and dilled green beans. Simmer mixture 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Spoon mixture into greased 9- by 13-inch baking pan. Spoon corn muffin batter on top of bean mixture around outside edge of baking pan.

Bake in a 400-degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until topping is golden. Remove from oven and brush lightly with maple syrup as desired.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings.

Nutrition information per serving: 260 calories, 6 grams fat (21 percent fat calories), 19 grams protein, 32 grams carbohydrate, 4 grams fiber, 55 milligrams cholesterol, 770 milligrams sodium.