Description
Comfort meets luxury in this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, a creamy southern classic that blends tender chicken, rich cheeses, and buttery crackers into a mouthwatering masterpiece. Hearty layers promise pure satisfaction for family dinners and potluck gatherings you’ll absolutely adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4.12 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup cottage cheese
Creamy Base:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 (10.5-ounce/298 grams) can unsalted cream of chicken soup
Seasoning and Topping:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried onion powder
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- 5 tablespoons (74 milliliters) butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9×9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to ensure easy serving and cleanup.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, thoroughly blend shredded chicken with cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and cream of chicken soup until the mixture becomes smooth and uniformly incorporated.
- Transfer the creamy chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly to create a consistent layer that will cook thoroughly.
- Crush Ritz crackers into fine crumbs and combine with melted butter, creating a golden, crispy topping that will add texture and richness to the dish.
- Carefully distribute the buttery cracker crumbs across the surface of the chicken mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the topping turns a delectable golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes, allowing the creamy filling to set and cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Enhance protein by using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a healthier, protein-packed version.
- Swap regular chicken with rotisserie chicken to boost flavor and reduce cooking time dramatically.
- Ensure crackers stay crispy by adding them during the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent soggy topping.
- Create a gluten-free alternative by replacing Ritz crackers with crushed gluten-free cornflakes or almond flour crumbs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 456
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg