Ultimate Chicken Casserole With Fried Onions

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

When I took this ultimate chicken casserole to a neighborhood block party, I ended up emailing the recipe to a dozen new friends by the end of the night! It’s full of melted cheese, seasoned chicken, and creamy noodles all topped with crunchy French fried onions.

comforting casserole with chicken that even a picky eater will love

This easy dinner recipe is full of juicy chicken, creamy sauce, tender noodles, and all topped with a crunchy onion topping. And don’t forget all the yummy cheese and bacon.

Made with pantry ingredients, it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken. Plus you can prep it ahead of time and bake when ready. Makes it perfect for busy weeknights like this herb crusted chicken.

Fan of casseroles? Check out my chicken tetrazzini, my chicken potato broccoli casserole, or my French onion chicken casserole. They’re my most popular ones.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.

labeled ingredients for a chicken casserole on a marble background

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and their quantities.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless chicken breasts – Use seasoned rotisserie chicken or cooked shredded chicken for easy prep.
Wide egg noodles – Substitute any shape of pasta you like. I love penne in this!
Cream of chicken soup – Try cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery, or cream of onion.
Corn – canned or frozen works best.
Bacon – Crispy, cooked and chopped bacon.
French-fried onions – These add a great crunch! Substitute cracker crumbs or Panko.

Follow us on Pinterest so you can easily save your favorite casserole recipes to your dinner planning board. And save a few of our other recipes while you are there!

How To Make Ultimate Chicken Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Cook the egg noodles al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, 2 cups corn, milk, cans cream of chicken soup, onion, garlic, and milk.

Add in the cooked pasta and gently stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

bacon and french fried onion on top of noodles in a casserole dish

Spread the chicken mixture in the baking pan. Top with cheese, crumbled bacon, and fried onions. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Remove and serve warm.

For the full recipe and detailed cooking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.

comforting chicken noodle casserole with scoop missing

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is a great weeknight chicken recipe that is great on it’s own. But, l love this with a side salad, some crusty bread to get all that sauce, and maybe a cheesecake for dessert.

How long does it last?

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warmed through. You can also reheat in the original dish in the oven at 350F until bubbly and warmed through. The internal temperature should be 165F.

Can I freeze it?

I recommend freezing the unbaked casserole in a freezer safe casserole dish wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the fridge, top with bacon and fried onions, and bake as directed.

Variations

If you want to put a spin on this classic casserole, here are some options:

Layer broccoli spears or green peppers or other types of veggies to it.
Use different styles of cream soups (mushroom or celery soup works nice!)
Make it vegetarian by using a mix of mushrooms instead of the chicken.
If you want it to be vegan then use a veggie broth based potato soup for the creamy soup component.
Try different cheeses! This Swiss chicken is a great example of using a different cheese than cheddar.
Stir in some water chestnuts for more crunch.

Tips For The Best Casserole

Spray with non stick cooking spray in the bottom or your 9 x 13 baking dish to make it easier to serve and to clean the dish afterwards.
Substitute ground beef or ground turkey for the chicken.
Change up the egg noodles and use your favorite pasta shape.
Don’t have or like fried onions? Try a topping of bread crumbs or crushed corn flakes mixed with melted butter.
Use different cans of cream soups, like cream of mushroom or cream of asparagus, cheese soup, etc.

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!

Pinterest pin image for ultimate chicken casserole

This ultimate easy chicken casserole recipe is easy to throw together with simple ingredients on a busy weeknight is one the whole family will love!