Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Absolutely creamy and full of tender chicken, this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is super easy to make and perfect for freezing!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
This is my family’s go-to comfort food! Super easy to make and is everyone’s favorite creamy casserole. At least amongst my friends it is.
A hit at all the pot lucks, you can make it in advance, make a few of them, and freeze them for later!
Full of tender chicken, a thick and creamy sauce, and topped with a crunchy, buttery, Ritz cracker topping. It tastes like a million dollars in your mouth. Or pretty close to it.
My other favorite chicken recipes include this loaded chicken noodle soup, this baked chicken spaghetti, and this marry me chicken soup.
Ingredients Needed
Chicken – I like cooked, shredded chicken breasts. Use a rotisserie chicken for easier prep.
Cream sheese – Bring the cream cheese to room temperature before mixing. Feel free to use low fat or fat free versions.
Cottage cheese – I like to use the small curd full fat cottage cheese. Use a low fat or fat free version if you prefer.
Sour cream – Sour cream adds a tanginess to the casserole. You can also use plain Greek yogurt instead.
Condensed cream soup – Cream of chicken soup is best but feel free to use any of the cream soups: mushroom, celery, onion, cheddar cheese, or broccoli cheddar.
Spices – The spices I like to use are garlic powder and onion powder but you can add a little chicken seasoning or even Italian seasoning.
Crackers – Ritz crackers are best for this but feel free to use soda crackers, Saltine crackers, and even corn flakes. You will need a sleeve of ritz crackers or roughly ~25 crackers.
Butter – Unsalted butter best so you can control the amount of salt.
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How to Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
First: Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 9×9 baking dish with cooking spray. Chop or shred the chicken.
Second: In a large bowl combine the chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, chicken soup, sour cream, and spices. Mix to combine completely.
Spread the cream cheese chicken mixture into the prepared 9×9 baking dish.
Third: In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, melt butter in intervals of 20 seconds until melted. Add the crushed cracker crumbs to the butter and mix to combine.
Fourth: Sprinkle the ritz cracker topping over the top of the casserole. Bake in the oven uncovered at 350F for 30- 40 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Remove and serve warm. Enjoy!
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How long does it last?
Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the oven.
Can I freeze it?
You can freeze this million dollar chicken casserole before or after you bake it. It’s great to make a double batch and freeze one for later!
If frozen unbaked, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
If reheating a previously baked and frozen casserole, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then cover with foil and bake at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.
“This chicken casserole tasted so delicious and really easy to make! Will surely have this again, thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe! Highly recommended!”
~Allyssa
Tips for No Leftovers
- Use precooked chicken! I have a stash of shredded chicken in my freezer in 1 pound packages just for casseroles like this.
- Change the cream of chicken soup to cream of mushroom soup, or onion, celery, or cheddar cheese soup.
- Use saltine crackers or corn flakes for the crumb topping if you don’t have ritz crackers or butter crackers.
- Add in frozen peas, green beans, or corn for more veggies.
- Sprinkle a few poppy seeds on top for more texture and crunch.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the “tried it” button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!
This delicious Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole Recipe is the perfect weeknight meal that you can prep ahead of time. Serve with your favorite vegetable like Old Fashioned Candied Carrots for an easy and complete meal during a busy week!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts cooked, shredded, appx 4 cups
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 can 10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 sleeve Ritz butter crackers appx 30 crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 9×9 baking dish with non stick spray. Chop or shred the chicken.
- In a large bowl combine the chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese, and spices. Mix to combine completely.
- Spread the chicken cream cheese mixture into the prepared 9×9 baking dish.
- In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, melt butter in intervals of 20 seconds until melted. Add the crushed cracker crumbs to the butter and mix to combine.
- Sprinkle the cracker crumbs and butter over the top of the casserole.
- Bake in the oven uncovered at 350F for 30- 40 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Remove and serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Would I be able to use ricotta in place of the cottage cheese?
Absolutely!
If I’m going to eat a 300 calorie portion with 23 grams of fat (most of them saturated) I think I’d rather have something deep fried. But it would be difficult for me to find a plate of fish and chips this unhealthy. But maybe that’s just me. For anyone trying to avoid diabetes and heart disease, using low-fat cottage cheese and replacing the cream cheese/sour cream with low-fat Greek yogurt (or Skyr, or maybe even bechamel sauce) would make this a meal your body wouldn’t regret having eaten the next day, without drastically compromising flavor.
Feel free to find something that fits your dietary needs or make a salad. Have a nice week!
I love this suggestion. I was thinking the same thing. Salad comment aside. Thanks!
I’m sorry I wish that I could try this but your recipe is only half there. Very disappointed.
Not sure what you mean? I have abbreviated instructions in the post but the full recipe is available in the recipe card at the bottom.
Do you think it would taste okay without cheddar cheese? Or maybe substituting cheddar for Parmesan cheese?
It will be great with Parmesan and/or mozzarella!
@Jennifer, can I use a 8×12 dish instead of 9×9?
Yes you can!