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If you're looking for comfort food, look no further than my Million Dollar Chicken Casserole recipe! It's a one-bowl dinner that comes together in minutes and couldn't be more delicious. Creamy, savory, cheesy, and absolutely irresistible for kids and adults alike!
Jump to:
- Million Dollar Chicken Recipe
- Why You'll Love this Creamy Chicken Casserole
- Creamy Chicken Bake Ingredients
- How to Make Million Dollar Casserole
- Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Casserole Expert Tips
- Chicken Casserole Substitutions
- Storing and Reheating Shredded Chicken Casserole
- Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe FAQ
- Family Casserole Recipes
- Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Reviews
Million Dollar Chicken Recipe
I'm a big fan of chicken for dinner, especially when it's served with a cream sauce. My kids grew up eating my lemon cream sauce with chicken, not just with tenderloins but with pan-seared chicken, oven-roasted chicken, and chicken on the grill… the list goes on!
But, personally, my favorite way to serve chicken is in a creamy casserole. Casseroles are easy without sacrificing on flavor, and this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole truly is the best.
It's the ultimate potluck recipe or weeknight dinner. I love bringing it to parties, because someone always asks what the secret is!
Why You'll Love this Creamy Chicken Casserole
This casserole is the taste of comfort
Some recipes are just made to be comfort foods, and this is one of them. And let me tell you, I've never heard a single complaint when I've served this chicken casserole recipe for dinner. Even the pickiest kids I've ever cooked for have cleaned their plates! It's creamy, savory, and absolutely mouthwatering.
It's so easy to make
If you can open a can and shred some chicken, you can make this casserole. It's so easy, I almost feel like I'm cheating! Seriously, you just mix everything in a bowl, top it with crackers, and set it to cook. You could probably mix it right in the casserole dish if you're really short on time.
Leftovers are perfect for mix n' match meals
Creamy chicken casserole leftovers are some of my favorite leftovers to make new meals out of. Serve them up in the morning with biscuits and extra cream for quick and easy biscuits and gravy, add the leftovers to soup for a lusciously creamy infusion of flavor, or served up with sauteed spinach and mushrooms for a creamy treat on toast.
Creamy Chicken Bake Ingredients
- Cooked chicken: I love prepping shredded chicken for meal prep early in the week using my super-easy recipe for pulled chicken! That said, you can also use rotisserie chicken. It will be just as delicious (and you can use the chicken carcass for soup!)
- Cream cheese: Let the cream cheese come up to room temperature so it's nice and easy to mix. You want block cream cheese, not whipped.
- Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese has a delicious mild flavor and a nice texture that retains some solid curds as the casserole cooks.
- Sour cream: A little bit of tangy sour cream helps add dimension, balancing out the richness of the cream cheese and chicken.
- Cream of chicken soup: I tend to use canned soup because it's so easy and already condensed!
- Garlic powder: I like to use garlic powder in casserole. It has a mellow, sweet flavor and mixes in well. For this recipe especially, you want mild, comforting flavors.
- Onion powder: Just like the garlic, I prefer to use garlic powder to make this recipe as easy and cozy as possible. That said, you can also use finely chopped onions and saute them before adding them to the casserole, it's just an extra step!
- Ritz crackers: Ritz (or the store-brand equivalent) make the perfect crushed cracker topping! They're buttery and salty, with just the right amount of crunch.
- Salted butter: The butter will be mixed into the crackers, so I tend to use salted butter to emphasize the flavor.
- Mozzarella cheese: Make sure you're using freshly grated mozzarella, not shredded. Bagged shredded mozzarella won't melt well and can leave clumpy streaks.
- Salt and pepper: I like to add a healthy amount of freshly cracked black pepper.
- Fresh thyme: A little fresh thyme really takes this recipe to a new level! It's so simple, but really adds a wonderful aroma that brings a little freshness to a cozy, warming dish.
How to Make Million Dollar Casserole
1: Preheat & Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then lightly spray a 9 by 9-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
2: Combine Ingredients
In a large bowl combine chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cream of chicken soup.
3: Assemble Casserole
Spread this mixture into the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
4: Create Topping
In a smaller bowl combine crushed crackers and melted butter, and sprinkle over the chicken mixture.
5: Bake and Serve!
Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with fresh thyme (optional), and enjoy!
Chicken Casserole Recipes
Creamy Chicken Casserole Expert Tips
- I love using my own homemade pulled chicken breasts, but you can use rotisserie chicken too!
- This recipe is perfect for add-ins. Mix in mushrooms, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, celery, kale or spinach, or small cubed potatoes for a bulked up and delicious veggie-stuffed casserole your kids will love!
- You can change up the proportions of the creamy ingredients such as the cottage cheese and cream cheese- adjust them to your preferred flavor profile.
- To make the casserole thinner, you can add milk or cream.
- Bacon bits crumbled into the buttery Ritz cracker topping make this dish even more irresistible.
Isabel's Top Tip: Add Rice!
If you're looking for a bulkier main course casserole, try turning this recipe into Creamy Chicken and Rice casserole! All you need to do is add 4 cups of cooked rice and reduce the diced chicken by 1 cup. Stir it all together and bake!
Chicken Casserole Substitutions
- Soup: You can swap the cream of chicken soup with cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup. Alternatively, you can make your own soup with a roux and heavy cream. I make my own when I'm making gluten free chicken casserole.
- Crackers: If you can't use crushed ritz crackers, you can use panko, bread crumbs, crushed pretzels, or any other favorite cracker crumbs.
- Chicken: This recipe is a great way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
- Cheese: You can swap the mozzarella out for your favorite mild cheese. I've used cheddar cheese, gruyere, and swiss, and all turned out incredible.
Storing and Reheating Shredded Chicken Casserole
- Make-Ahead: You can make this dish ahead and cook it later! Fully mix up the casserole, but don't add the crackers. Pour into a casserole dish, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Top with crackers before baking it! You can bake chicken casserole from frozen by adding 10 minutes to the bake time.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container or in the casserole dish wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. Leftover creamy chicken casserole lasts 4-5 days in the fridge.
- Freezer: Chicken casserole freezes very well! I recommend storing it in serving-sized airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Thawing: You can thaw frozen casserole in the fridge overnight, or by placing the frozen casserole in the oven, covered with foil, with a little extra milk. Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes or until heated through.
- Reheating: You can reheat leftover casserole in the microwave for single portions, or place the dish in the oven at 350°F until nice and toasty, about 15 minutes.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe FAQ
Yes! Just add 4 cups of cooked rice (it must be cooked) to the casserole mix, and reduce the amount of chicken by 1 cup. If you want creamier chicken and rice casserole, you can add 1 cup of milk.
Absolutely! The only ingredient that includes gluten in this recipe is the crackers, which can easily be swapped out for your favorite gluten free cracker. I like using Lance brand crackers, which have a very similar texture and flavor to Ritz.
You can use shredded cooked chicken, cubed chicken, rotisserie chicken, or even drained canned chicken. White and dark meat both work great. This is a great way to use up big packs of chicken drumsticks and other budget chicken cuts!
Family Casserole Recipes
- Creamy Turkey Tetrazzini - or its sibling, Chicken Tetrazzini!
- Cheesy Chicken Potato Casserole
- Elegant and Hearty Chicken Artichoke Casserole
- And of course, the all-time reader favorite, my Breakfast Sausage Casserole!
If you enjoyed the recipe, leave a comment and a rating below!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Video
Equipment
- 1 9x9 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 5 cups Shredded chicken
- 4 oz Cream cheese - at room temperature
- 1 cup Cottage cheese
- ½ cup Sour cream
- 10½ oz can Cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers - crushed
- 5 Tablespoons Salted butter - melted
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ Tablespoon Black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Thyme - fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Lightly spray a 9 by 90-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl combine chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cream of chicken soup.5 cups Shredded chicken,4 oz Cream cheese,1 cup Cottage cheese,½ cup Sour cream,10½ oz can Cream of chicken soup,1 teaspoon Garlic powder,1 teaspoon Onion powder,1 teaspoon Salt,½ Tablespoon Black pepper
- Spread this mixture into the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- In a smaller bowl combine crushed crackers and melted butter, and sprinkle over the chicken mixture.1 sleeve Ritz crackers,5 Tablespoons Salted butter
- Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown. Top with fresh thyme (optional), and enjoy!1 Tablespoon Thyme
Notes
-
- I love using my own homemade pulled chicken breasts, but you can use rotisserie chicken too!
-
- This recipe is perfect for add-ins. Mix in mushrooms, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, celery, kale or spinach, or small cubed potatoes for a bulked up and delicious veggie-stuffed casserole your kids will love!
-
- You can change up the proportions of the creamy ingredients such as the cottage cheese and cream cheese- adjust them to your preferred flavor profile.
-
- To make the casserole thinner, you can add milk or cream.
-
- Bacon bits crumbled into the buttery Ritz cracker topping make this dish even more irresistible.
- If you're looking for a bulkier main course casserole, try turning this recipe into Creamy Chicken and Rice casserole! All you need to do is add 4 cups of cooked rice and reduce the diced chicken by 1 cup. Stir it all together and bake!
Jayne steiner says
This was quick and easy and so yummy.
Isabel Laessig says
So glad you enjoyed it, Jayne! Thank you!