A rich and creamy chicken filling is only half of the best thing about this recipe – The real star of the show might be the crispy topping, made with buttered Ritz crackers! They help to create the perfect crunch to chicken ratio, so I definitely won’t recommend skipping them. Serve this delicious creamy chicken casserole with a side of vegetables and some homemade dinner rolls or biscuits to create a meal that your family will not soon forget. Looking for more comforting creamy chicken dinner ideas? I have plenty for you to try! Start with Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole, Creamy Mushroom Chicken, One Pot Creamy Parmesan Chicken, King Ranch Chicken Casserole, or Creamy Crockpot White Chicken Chili.
Easy Weeknight Dinner Casserole
It’s Delicious Comfort Food – Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is made with cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, cottage cheese, AND sour cream. The sauce is so creamy and rich, and when this dish is baked and bubbly it will absolutely warm you up from head to toe. Made with pre-cooked chicken – I won’t stop you from poaching a few chicken breasts to use in this recipe, but it’s much easier and sometimes cheaper to use a grocery store rotisserie chicken instead. I grab at least one chicken every time I’m in Costco – it’s perfect for million dollar chicken casserole, and many other recipes. You can make it in advance – You can prep this chicken casserole and keep it in the fridge or freezer. When you’re ready for a delicious and easy dinner, just pop it in the oven!
Ingredients In Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Here’s what you need to make this dish:
Chicken: You’ll need about 4 cups of shredded cooked chicken. You can pull this from a rotisserie chicken or cook about two pounds of chicken ahead of time. Crackers: Ritz crackers are the best choice for the crunchy, salty topping. You’ll want to use a whole sleeve of them along with a half stick of butter to make them extra crispy. Cream of Chicken Soup: A can of condensed cream of chicken soup gives this casserole a silky texture and plenty of savory flavor. Dairy Products: I mentioned that this casserole was creamy, right? Sour cream, softened cream cheese, and cottage cheese blended with the soup make all the magic happen. Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make Ritz cracker Chicken Casserole
Before you get started, preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and lightly grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
Recipe Tips
Instead of Ritz crackers, you might enjoy this casserole topped with crushed crackers, corn flakes, or saltine crackers. Shredding the chicken: Be sure to shred the chicken into small enough pieces, but not so small that you loose all of the meaty texture. Add ins to try: Some people like to add cooked bacon to this chicken casserole. It’s also easy to add frozen mixed vegetables too.
Storing Tips
If you happen to find yourself with any leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can easily reheat leftovers in the microwave.
What To Serve With Chicken Casserole
Because this dish doesn’t include any vegetables, I like to serve some on the side. Make it easy by serving your family’s favorite steamed veggies, or try one of these easy sides and salads:
Broccoli Slaw Green Goddess Salad Beet Salad Roasted Broccoli Blanched Asparagus
Can I make this casserole ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Once you’ve assembled the filling, add it to your baking dish, cover it with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge. You can do this up to a day in advance. Add fresh cracker topping before baking. You can also do the exact same thing, but store the chicken filling in the freezer instead for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then add the buttery cracker topping before baking. With either make-ahead method, you may need to add a few minutes to the bake time since the mixture starts off cold rather than at room temperature.
Does the chicken need to be cooked before adding it to the casserole?
For this recipe, yes it does. Raw chicken will not cook properly using this method.
How Can I Add Veggies to this?
Stir in some frozen chopped broccoli, mixed vegetables, green beans, or peas. They’ll cook in the sauce and be perfectly tender when the casserole is done baking. This easy chicken casserole is so good, it tastes like a million bucks! Luckily, it doesn’t cost nearly that much to make, and is a quick and inexpensive way to feed your whole family. Be sure to pin this recipe – You’ll want to make it again soon! © Little Sunny Kitchen
