Easy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Easy staple ingredients like rotisserie chicken, sour cream, and simple spices, this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is perfect for making ahead or serving right away when you sit down for a family dinner together.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe
Say hello to your new go-to dinner – Million Dollar Chicken Casserole! Not just comfort food in my opinion, but something that even those picky eaters will enjoy, just like my million dollar spaghetti squash version!
Not only that, but it’s easy to prep, uses just a handful of ingredients that I bet you have at home already, and you can make it ahead of time.
This is the best part! When I make this recipe, I usually make two or even three of them and freeze for later. You never know when a friend or neighbor might need a dinner.
Some of my other favorite chicken casserole recipes include this chicken pot pie bubble up. It’s just like a pot pie but easier with a biscuit topping. This chicken tetrazzini, and this tuna tetrazzini, because they are full of spaghetti noodles. My family loves them!
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Ingredients Needed
- Chicken breast – Any cooked chicken works, I recommend rotisserie chicken for extra flavor.
- Cream cheese – Sub full fat, reduced fat, or fat free. Can also use cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, or greek yogurt.
- Cottage cheese – If you aren’t able to find cottage cheese, replace with Ricotta.
- Sour cream – Full-fat sour cream is highly recommended in order to keep the flavor, or substitute with low-fat or fat free.
- Cream of chicken soup – Can substitute with cream of celery or onion.
- Cheddar cheese – If need be, substitute cheddar cheese with American cheese, which has a similar but milder flavor.
- Spices – Garlic powder, onion powder.
- Melted butter – Unsalted is best.
- Ritz butter crackers – Substitute with your favorite cracker or breadcrumbs.
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How to Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Prepare a 9×9 baking dish with non-stick spray. Chop or shred the chicken.
- Mix the chicken, soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, and cheddar cheese in a big bowl until fully combined.
- Spread the chicken mixture into the sprayed 9×9 casserole 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!
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How long does it last?
The Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is similar to others in that it is typically good in the fridge for around 4 days.
I recommend storing any leftovers in an airtight container. If you are storing the whole casserole for later, wrap the top with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
When reheating, I always add more crackers on top to make it crunchy again.
Can I make it ahead of time?
One of the best things about this casserole is that it can be made at any time and frozen either baked or unbaked.
If you want to freeze it before baking: Make everything as it’s listed in the recipe card. Then wrap tightly and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed.
If you want to freeze af it’s been baked: Put everything together and bake, cool to room temperature, and freeze. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Since this casserole is a delicious comfort food, we recommend pairing it with other simple side dishes like spicy green beans, this veg-all casserole, oven-roasted broccoli, or even a Southern Pear Salad.
Don’t forget you will need something to grab up every last bit of sauce. These Texas Roadhouse Rolls are perfect for that.
Tips for the Best Casserole
- I love a rotisserie chicken in this! It makes prep so easy. I also prep a large batch of chicken breasts and freeze in 1 pound portions.
- Substitute the cream of chicken soup to cream of mushroom soup, or onion, celery, or cheddar cheese soup!
- Don’t have Ritz crackers? Use saltine crackers, corn flakes, or even bread crumbs for the crumb topping.
- Sneak in some veggies! Add frozen peas, green beans, or corn.
- Garnish with green onions for a pop of color!
- Add a sprinkle of poppy seeds over the top for more flavor and texture.
- Check out this super easy 5 ingredient broccoli chicken casserole for a quick weeknight dinner.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!
This easy to make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights, with its yummy flavors and simple ingredients. Prepare it ahead and freeze it or serve it right away with a side of green beans or salad to make the whole family happy!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked chicken breast shredded
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cup cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1 10.5 ounce can 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 approx 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
- 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 in this million dollar chicken casserole!
- Sprinkle a few poppy seeds on top for more texture and crunch.
Nutrition
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I’d never heard of this recipe and couldn’t wait to try it. We absolutely loved it and will be making it again!
One of my favorite chickens now in casserole form, I had to try it! So yummy and we through in some fresh garden peas like you suggested! Great pops of color and flavor!
I made this to take to a family member who was sick. I baked it in a disposable pan and took it to her. It was easy to make and she said it was so delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
This was SUCH an easy casserole to make for a weeknight. My family loved it, and so did I. It’ll be added to our rotating menu for sure!
This is an amazing recipe. Everytime I make it the family asks me to make it again!