Recipe: Cheesy Pheasant Casserole

by
posted on December 29, 2018
cheesypheasantcasserole_lead.jpg

Casseroles often get a bad rap and are thought of as a concoction for someone that doesn’t know how to cook. The best way to avoid the stigma is to remove the word casserole from the recipe name, and replace it with a description like gourmet creamy, cheesy pheasant.

Pheasant can be challenging to cook, with a tendency to dry out and cook fast. Preparing the pheasant for this recipe by simmering the meat in chicken stock is a great way to ensure it stays moist. Depending on your preferences for spice, you can use hot chilies in the recipe or something milder like red peppers or pimento.

Ingredients
• 2 whole pheasants
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 1 lb fresh asparagus
• 6 hard-boiled eggs
• ¾ cup butter
• ½ cup flour
• 4 cup milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup cheddar, grated (aged adds more flavor)
• 1 can pimiento or red chilies
• 3 cup seasoned bread crumbs

Directions
1. Place pheasants in boiling chicken stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove pheasants from stock, let cool, and debone the meat and cut it into cubes.
2. Wash asparagus, snap off and discard cut ends, and slice remainder into one-inch pieces.
3. Hard boil six eggs then peel and chop.
4. Melt ½ cup of butter and whisk in flour to make a roux. Add the milk, salt, pepper and constantly stir until the mixture thickens.
5. Add eggs, cheese and pimientos to the mixture, and stir well to complete the white sauce.
6. Place 1½ cups of seasoned bread crumbs in a lightly buttered 10-inch Camp Chef Dutch oven (2-quart casserole dish). Add a layer of white sauce, then a layer of pheasant and asparagus. Repeat layers with a final topping of white sauce.
7. Top the dish with 1½ cups of seasoned bread crumbs and drizzle with ¼ cup of melted butter.
8. Bake at 350°F or until top is browned.

Latest

2025 Must Have Turkey Gear Lead
2025 Must Have Turkey Gear Lead

Must-Have Turkey Gear for 2025

Check out some of the best turkey hunting gear we could put our hands on during the 2025 season.

Pigs in Darkness: Sightmark and Pulsar Field Test

A night hunt for pigs on a Texas ranch is the perfect opportunity to shine light on thermal riflescopes from Sightmark and Pulsar.

New for 2025: Mossberg 990 Aftershock

Following on the success of the Mossberg 590 Shockwave pump action, Mossberg has announced the all-new 990 Aftershock, a 12-gauge, 3-inch semi-auto version.

Hardware Review: Benelli Lupo HPR

The Benelli Lupo HPR was designed to bridge the gap between extreme long-range shooting and hunting.

Texas Joins ‘Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag’ Program

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is the latest partner to join the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation’s (OSCF) “Fill A Bag While Filling Your Tag” program.

#SundayGunday: Savage Revel Classic

This week on #SundayGunday we test-fire the Revel Classic, a new-for-2025 lever-action rimfire rifle available from Savage Arms. It’s offered in .22 Long Rifle now, and models in .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire will be available this summer.



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.