Description
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen, combining tender chicken, rich cream cheese, and a crispy cracker topping that makes dinner feel like a warm hug.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 3 cups cooked chicken
Main Dairy:
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring every corner is covered.
- Blend 8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp salt in a large bowl until your mixture becomes silky smooth.
- Gently incorporate 3 cups cooked chicken into the creamy base, making sure each shred gets thoroughly coated.
- Spread the chicken mixture across the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer that reaches all edges.
- Generously shower 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the chicken, covering every inch.
- Melt ½ cup butter completely, either in a small saucepan or microwave until fully liquid.
- Combine 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, stirring until each cracker crumb glistens with buttery goodness.
- Distribute the buttered cracker mixture across the cheese layer, creating a uniform, crunchy topping.
- Dust ½ cup grated parmesan cheese over the cracker layer for an extra flavor punch.
- Slide the casserole into the 350°F oven and bake for 30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling edges.
- After removing from the oven, let your masterpiece rest for 10 minutes to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Swap out regular crackers for gluten-free alternatives to make this dish celiac-friendly.
- Cut back on salt and use low-sodium soup if watching your sodium intake.
- For extra protein, add diced ham or cooked bacon to the chicken mixture.
- Prepare the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, which can enhance the flavors and make weeknight dinners easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg