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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole has succulent chicken pieces bathed in a luxurious creamy sauce, crowned with a crunchy, buttery Ritz cracker topping. With every bite, savor the taste of pure indulgence that’s worth every penny!

Million-Dollar-Chicken-Casserole

Count me in for simple chicken dishes! Whether it’s utilizing leftover rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken combined with just a handful of ingredients to whip up a satisfying meal, I’m all for it! Speaking of favorites, Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole and Buffalo Wild Wings Chicken Pasta are among the top contenders in my list of beloved chicken casserole creations.

spoon-holding-million-dollar-chicken-casserole

Ingredients for Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

million-dollar-chicken-casserole-ingredients.
  • Shredded Chicken: 4 cups cooked chicken, like shredded chicken breast or thighs, or 1.5 pounds. You can use leftover chicken or chicken from a rotisserie.
  • Cream Cheese: 1 8oz package softened to room temperature.
  • Sour Cream: 1/2 Cup Sour Cream.
  • Mayonnaise: 1/2 Cup Mayonnaise; we used hellman’s
  • Cream of Chicken Soup: 1 Can 10.5oz can substitute with cream of mushroom or cream of celery.
  • Garlic Powder: 1/2 tsp. You can use minced garlic or powder.
  • Onion Powder: We used onion powder, but you can use dried minced onion.
  • Salt and Pepper: 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.

For the Ritz Topping:

  • Butter: 4 tbsp of melted butter
  • Ritz Crackers: 1 Cup crushed ritz about 1 sleeve.
  • Parsley: Fresh or Dried Parsley 1 tsp.

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Add cream cheese, seasonings, cream soup, and mayonnaise in a large bowl.
  • Mix together until creamy and smooth.
  • Add Shredded Chicken to the cream cheese mixture.
  • Stir until well combined
  • Spread the chicken and cream cheese mixture into a baking dish.
  • Mix melted butter and parsley with crushed ritz crackers.
  • Place a single layer over the top of the chicken.
  • Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Chicken-Casserole

Tips & Tricks

  • Quality Chicken: Start with high-quality chicken breasts or thighs for the best flavor and texture. You can use leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience, but freshly cooked chicken will enhance the taste.
  • Quality Chicken: Start with high-quality chicken breasts or thighs for the best flavor and texture. You can use leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience, but freshly cooked chicken will enhance the taste.
  • Creamy Sauce: Invest time in creating a rich and creamy sauce using ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or heavy cream. Add flavor with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of paprika.
  • Buttery Ritz Cracker Topping: Crush Ritz crackers and mix them with melted butter for that irresistible crunchy topping. Don’t skimp on the butter; it adds flavor and helps the crackers brown beautifully.
  • Cheese Layer: Consider adding a layer of shredded cheese between the chicken and the creamy sauce for an extra indulgent touch. Cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese work well.
  • Customize with Veggies: Mix in some vegetables like broccoli, spinach, or peas to add color, flavor, and nutrients to your casserole. Sauté them lightly before adding them to the dish.
  • Flavor Enhancers: Amp up the flavor with ingredients like diced onions, minced garlic, or chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme. These aromatics add depth to the dish.
  • Bake Until Golden: Bake the casserole until it’s bubbling hot and the top is golden brown. This ensures that all the flavors meld together, and the Ritz cracker topping gets crispy.
  • Rest Before Serving: Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking to set and meld the flavors together. This will also make it easier to slice and serve.
  • Garnish Creatively: Sprinkle some fresh herbs or grated Parmesan cheese on top just before serving for a burst of freshness and extra visual appeal.
  • Make Ahead: Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare it the night before and refrigerate overnight. Then, simply bake it when you’re ready to serve for a hassle-free meal.
  • Creamy Sauce: Invest time in creating a rich and creamy sauce using ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or heavy cream. Add flavor with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and a dash of paprika.
  • Buttery Ritz Cracker Topping: Crush Ritz crackers and mix them with melted butter for that irresistible crunchy topping. Don’t skimp on the butter; it adds flavor and helps the crackers brown beautifully.
  • Cheese Layer: Consider adding a layer of shredded cheese between the chicken and the creamy sauce for an extra indulgent touch. Cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese work well.
  • Customize with Veggies: Mix in some vegetables like broccoli, spinach, or peas to add color, flavor, and nutrients to your casserole. Sauté them lightly before adding them to the dish.
  • Flavor Enhancers: Amp up the flavor with ingredients like diced onions, minced garlic, or chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme. These aromatics add depth to the dish.
  • Bake Until Golden: Bake the casserole until it’s bubbling hot and the top is golden brown. This ensures that all the flavors meld together, and the Ritz cracker topping gets crispy.
  • Rest Before Serving: Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking to set and meld the flavors together. This will also make it easier to slice and serve.
  • Garnish Creatively: Sprinkle some fresh herbs or grated Parmesan cheese on top just before serving for a burst of freshness and extra visual appeal.
  • Make Ahead: Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare it the night before and refrigerate overnight. Then, simply bake it when you’re ready to serve for a hassle-free meal.
close-up-of-chicken-casserole

FAQs about Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Yes, absolutely! Leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked shredded chicken works perfectly in this recipe and can save you time.

Yes, you can freeze this casserole. Make sure it’s completely cooled before wrapping it tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

If you don’t have Ritz crackers, you can use crushed buttery crackers or breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter as a substitute. The texture may be slightly different, but it will still be delicious.

It will typically last for 3-4 days when stored properly in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Yes, you can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until you’re ready to bake it. Just make sure to cover it tightly to prevent it from drying out.

This casserole goes well with a variety of side dishes such as steamed vegetables, green beans, a crisp green salad, garlic bread, or rice pilaf.

More Recipies

Chicken-casserole
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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole has a creamy, rich sauce baked with tender pieces of chicken and then topped with buttery ritz crackers, which makes this meal taste like a million bucks!

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds cooked chicken breast
  • 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 8oz cream cheese
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Ritz Topping

  • 1 cup crushed ritz crackers
  • 4 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tsp parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Add cream cheese, seasonings, cream soup, and mayonnaise in a large bowl.
  3. Mix together until creamy and smooth.
  4. Add Shredded Chicken to the cream cheese mixture.
  5. Stir until well combined
  6. Spread the chicken and cream cheese mixture into a baking dish.
  7. Mix melted butter and parsley with crushed ritz crackers.
  8. Place a single layer over the top of the chicken.
  9. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Notes

  • You can use canned chicken for this recipe or shredded chicken. Left over chicken or turkey works as well.
  • Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature, so you get a nice creamy sauce.
  • Use a rolling pin to crush the ritz crackers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 656Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 24gCholesterol: 178mgSodium: 937mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 40g

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6 Comments

  1. This looks so delicious. i like that you have a video that goes along with it. It makes cooking it much simpler. I need new recipes to jazz up chicken. Thanks for sharing. Shalom.

      1. Delicious! The whole family loved it. I added shredded cheddar cheese and
        par-boiled (boiled 5 minutes) wide egg noodles to the recipe.

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