November 21, 2023
Review RecipeMillion Dollar Chicken Casserole
Once you take your first bite of the creamy and cheesy chicken in our million dollar chicken casserole, you’ll know you’ve won the lottery!
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This million dollar chicken casserole is definitely a dish fit for a king! It’s luxurious, creamy, and decadent, with tender chicken smothered in a cheesy sauce and topped with a buttery Ritz cracker topping.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Ingredients
With its savory blend of tender chicken, creamy cheese, and hearty vegetables, every bite is a flavor explosion in your mouth.
The delectable dish combines both richness and tanginess, tantalizing your taste buds with every spoonful.
Whether you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner or something special to serve up for a cozy family gathering, this casserole won’t disappoint
You’ll need:
- 4 ounces of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup of sour cream
- ¾ cup of ricotta cheese
- 10.5-ounce can of cream of chicken with herbs (I used Campbell’s brand)
- ¾ teaspoon of garlic salt (I used Lawry’s brand)
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- 4 cups (approximately 2 pounds) of shredded white meat chicken
- 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1½ cups of Ritz cracker crumbs (from 1 sleeve of 32 crackers)
- ⅓ cup of unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped
Substitutions And Additions
CHICKEN: I like to buy an approximately two-pound package of boneless skinless chicken breasts and cook them in my Instant Pot (according to the manufacturer’s instructions).
Shred the warm chicken breasts with two forks and add them to your casserole.
You can also boil or roast your chicken breast. I very lightly season them with salt and pepper to taste.
You can also buy a large rotisserie chicken from a big box grocery store, or they even have pre-shredded rotisserie chicken meat available.
I will often use the rotisserie chicken’s white and dark meat for this recipe.
CREAM SOUP: I love the added flavor the can of cream of chicken with herbs adds to this recipe.
You can substitute a standard can of cream of chicken soup if that is what you have in your pantry.
You may want to add a tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley to the cheese mixture as well as a garnish for added flavor.
CHEESE: Because I like to keep this chicken recipe really easy, I will buy a bag of shredded mozzarella cheese in my dairy section.
This is not one of those cases where freshly shredded cheese is better. You can save the extra cheese for other recipes.
RICOTTA: I like ricotta cheese in this creamy chicken casserole recipe for its smooth texture.
You can substitute small curd cottage cheese for the ricotta. Both choices are mild in flavor but add great texture to this casserole.
How To Make This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe
Most of the ingredients in this casserole come together in one bowl. Once you spread the mixture into the pan, you will top it with cheese and crackers and pop it in the oven to bake.
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
You can assemble this casserole six to eight hours in advance, without the Ritz cracker crumb crust, and store it covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator.
When you are ready to bake it, you will need to let the casserole sit at room temperature while you prepare the Ritz cracker crust (step 7) and your oven preheats.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
STEP TWO: In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese.
Stir the softened cream cheese with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to loosen it up so that it will incorporate well with the other ingredients.
STEP THREE: Add the sour cream, ricotta cheese, cream of chicken and herb soup, garlic salt, onion powder, and black pepper to the bowl of softened cream cheese.
Stir well to fully combine all the ingredients.
STEP FOUR: Fold in the shredded white meat chicken until the chicken is evenly coated with the cream cheese mixture.
STEP FIVE: Spread the chicken mixture into the baking dish in an even layer.
STEP SIX: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken mixture.
STEP SEVEN: In a small mixing bowl, stir together the Ritz cracker crumbs and melted butter. Top the casserole filling with the cracker crumbs.
PRO TIP:
A rolling pin is a great tool to crush the Ritz crackers in the package or a Ziploc bag.
STEP EIGHT: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the cracker crumb crust is golden brown.
PRO TIP:
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your casserole at the lower end of the recommended cooking time.
STEP NINE: Top the baked casserole with a garnish of the chopped fresh parsley.
STEP TEN: Allow the million-dollar chicken casserole to sit for five to ten minutes before serving.
How To Serve
This million-dollar chicken bake can be served with a side of Caesar salad and steamed or sauteed vegetables.
It’s the perfect dish to make for busy weeknights when you are looking for something quick and easy.
For something heartier, creamy mashed potatoes or mac and cheese on the side would give you a meal loaded with comfort food.
For even more comfort food casserole recipes, our cowboy casserole and crack chicken casserole are two of our favorites.
MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES
Storage
This recipe keeps beautifully in both the fridge and freezer. Here’s how to make sure you are storing the leftovers properly.
IN THE FRIDGE: You can store any leftover chicken casserole in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days.
IN THE FREEZER: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.
This million dollar chicken casserole might just live up to its name with all that deliciousness in one pan. This comforting meal is loaded with chicken tossed with a rich and creamy sauce and topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the best chicken to use in this easy chicken casserole recipe?
This cheesy chicken casserole works well with leftover rotisserie chicken, baked chicken breasts or thighs, or even leftover turkey.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
This chicken cheese casserole dish is a great freezer meal. Just make the recipe up to the step where you add the chicken mixture to the pan but wait to add the Ritz topping and bake. Cover and freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight, add your topping, and bake.
Can I freeze this easy chicken casserole?
This delicious casserole can be frozen, well-covered, for up to two months.
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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Once you take your first bite of the creamy and cheesy chicken in our million dollar chicken casserole, you’ll know you’ve won the lottery!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken with herbs, I used Campbell’s brand
- ¾ teaspoon garlic salt, I used Lawry’s brand
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups shredded white meat chicken, approximenly 2 pounds
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1½ cups Ritz cracker crumbs, from 1 sleeve of 32 crackers
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese. Stir the softened cream cheese with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula to loosen it up so that it will incorporate well with the other ingredients.
- Add the sour cream, ricotta cheese, cream of chicken and herb soup, garlic salt, onion powder, and black pepper to the bowl of softened cream cheese. Stir well to fully combine all the ingredients.
- Fold in the shredded white meat chicken until the chicken is evenly coated with the cheese mixture.
- Spread the chicken mixture into the baking dish in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the chicken mixture.
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together the Ritz cracker crumbs and melted unsalted butter. Top the million-dollar casserole with the cracker crumbs.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the cracker crumb crust is golden brown.
- Top the casserole with a garnish of the chopped fresh parsley.
- Allow the million-dollar chicken casserole to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can assemble this casserole 6 to 8 hours in advance, without the Ritz cracker crumb crust, and store it covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake it, you will need to let the casserole sit at room temperature while you prepare the Ritz cracker crust (step 7) and your oven preheats.
- A rolling pin is a great tool to crush the Ritz crackers in the package or a Ziploc bag.
- Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your casserole at the lower end of the recommended cooking time.
Nutrition
Calories: 623kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 1040mg | Potassium: 313mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1323IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 2mg
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Comments
Chelsea says
Won’t the white meat chicken be super dry after cooking twice and for so long?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Chelsea – nope, this is a delicious and creamy option and the chicken will be yummy and not dry. Enjoy!
Norweta Sakai Ridgeway says
I have made this casserole on several occasions and get nothing rave reviews about it