Description
Comfort meets luxury in this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, a creamy Southern classic that promises pure culinary bliss. Rich layers of tender chicken, velvety sauce, and crispy crackers make this dish an irresistible crowd-pleaser you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
Cheeses:
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Topping:
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (crushed)
- 0.25 cup (4 tablespoons) butter (melted)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating it to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Create a creamy base by whisking together softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup until completely smooth and free of lumps.
- Enhance the mixture with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, stirring to distribute the seasonings evenly throughout the creamy blend.
- Incorporate shredded chicken into the mixture, ensuring the meat is thoroughly coated with the rich, velvety sauce.
- Gently fold in half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, distributing it evenly throughout the casserole mixture.
- Carefully transfer the entire mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it out in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top, creating a generous cheese layer that will melt and bubble during baking.
- Prepare the crispy topping by crushing Ritz crackers and mixing them with melted butter until well combined.
- Evenly distribute the buttery cracker crumbs across the entire surface of the casserole, creating a golden, crunchy coating.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, watching for a golden-brown topping and bubbling edges.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes, which helps the dish set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Cream cheese should be at room temperature for smooth blending to prevent lumps in the mixture.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick and flavorful shortcut that saves preparation time.
- Swap Ritz crackers with gluten-free crackers or panko breadcrumbs for dietary restrictions.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium cream of chicken soup and monitoring added salt.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg