Description
Neiman Marcus Casserole brings comfort straight to your dinner table with a creamy blend of chicken, cheese, and crackers that comes together faster than you can say “delicious.” Weeknight dinners never looked this good, with zero fuss and maximum flavor packed into one simple, satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 20 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts/thighs
- ⅓ cup bacon crumbles
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 green onions, sliced
Topping and Garnish:
- 12 Ritz crackers, crushed
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Heat your oven precisely to 375°F, preparing a 9×13 inch baking dish for the casserole.
- Season 20 ounces of chicken with 1 tsp each of poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and ¼ tsp kosher salt in a hot skillet. Cook completely through until no pink remains.
- Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks, ensuring uniform texture.
- Whisk 2 Tbsp cornstarch into ½ cup chicken broth, creating a smooth base for your sauce in a medium saucepan.
- Pour ½ cup milk and ½ cup sour cream into the broth mixture, stirring continuously over medium heat.
- Melt 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese into the sauce, stirring until completely smooth and thickened.
- Fold the shredded chicken into the creamy cheese sauce, incorporating all ingredients thoroughly.
- Mix in ⅓ cup bacon crumbles, 2 sliced green onions, ¼ cup sliced almonds, and 1 ½ tsp hot sauce into the chicken mixture.
- Transfer the entire mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Crush 12 Ritz crackers and combine with 2 Tbsp melted butter to create a crispy topping.
- Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs across the entire surface of the casserole.
- Bake at 375°F for exactly 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the edges bubble slightly.
Notes
- Toast the almonds beforehand for a deeper, nuttier flavor that really enhances the overall taste of the casserole.
- Swap out regular chicken for rotisserie chicken to save time and add extra richness to the dish.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free crackers and ensure your chicken broth is certified gluten-free.
- Reduce the hot sauce if cooking for people who prefer milder flavors, or serve it on the side for customization.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 295 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg