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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole strikes the perfect balance between decadence and comfort. This Ritz Cracker chicken is loaded with tender shredded chicken, a creamy sauce and topped with a crunchy Ritz topping.
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is bursting with succulent shredded chicken and it’s a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. Whether you’re seeking a comforting family meal, a way to transform leftover chicken into something extraordinary, or a freezer-friendly option for those hectic days, this Million Dollar chicken bake delivers.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Chicken Casserole Recipe
- Million Dollar Chicken Ingredients
- How To Make Million Dollar Chicken Bake
- Tips To Make the Best Chicken Casserole
- Storing and Reheating
- What to Serve with Million Dollar Chicken Bake
- Recipe Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Chicken Recipes
- Million Dollar Chicken Bake Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Chicken Casserole Recipe
- Easy to Make: Requires just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep work, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights.
- Versatile: Easily customizable with different toppings and seasonings, allowing you to tailor the dish to your taste preferences.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Whether served at a family dinner or a dinner party, this chicken bake is sure to garner rave reviews and leave everyone satisfied.
Million Dollar Chicken Ingredients
- Cottage Cheese: Cottage cheese adds creaminess to the casserole. You can substitute it with ricotta cheese if you prefer or even Greek yogurt for a lighter option.
- Sour Cream: Sour creamands a tangy flavor. You can also substitute this for plain Greek yogurt.
- Cream Cheese: Room temperature cream cheese bumps up the creaminess of this casserole.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: This soup provides a savory base for the casserole and adds depth of flavor.
- Garlic Powder: Garlic powder add and earthy flavor. You can use minced fresh garlic as a substitute.
- Onion Powder: Onion powder imparts a mild onion flavor without having chunks of onion but you can use finely chopped fresh onions as an alternative.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper adds a hint of spice.
- Chicken: Leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken is super convenient. You can also use leftover turkey.
- Ritz Crackers: Ritz crackers provide a buttery crunch.
- Butter: The melted unsalted butter helps bind the cracker topping.
- Green onions: Green onions add a fresh, oniony flavor and a pop of color.
How To Make Million Dollar Chicken Bake
Step 1: Prepare the equipment. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F then grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set it aside.
Step 2: Make the sauce. In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, softened cream cheese, soup and dry seasonings. Mix the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Prepare the chicken mixture. Add the shredded chicken to the mixture and combine until everything is well incorporated before transfering the chicken mixture to the greased casserole dish and spreading it out evenly.
Step 4: Prepare the cracker topping. In a separate medium bowl, roughly crush 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers. Add 1/4 cup melted butter to the crushed crackers and mix well, ensuring the crackers are coated. Sprinkle the Ritz cracker mixture evenly over the chicken mixture in the casserole dish.
Step 5: Bake the casserole. Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crackers turn golden brown. Once done, remove the chicken casserole from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions.
Tips To Make the Best Chicken Casserole
- Use room temperature ingredients. Bring the cream cheese and other ingredients to room temperature for about 30 minuted for a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Use enough crackers. You will need 1 sleeve or about 32 Ritz crackers to make the topping.
- Tent with foil. If the cracker topping begins to brown too quickly during baking, loosely tent the casserole with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning while the interior finishes cooking.
- Customize if you like. Add vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli for extra nutrients, or experiment with different types of cheese for a unique twist.
Storing and Reheating
Storing: Leftovers can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Cover with foil and reheat the casserole in the oven until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions.
What to Serve with Million Dollar Chicken Bake
When serving Million Dollar Chicken Bake, consider pairing it with complementary side dishes that enhance its flavors and create a well-rounded meal. Here are some delicious options to serve alongside this indulgent dish.
- Roasted Vegetables: Serve a medley of roasted vegetables to add freshness and balance to the meal.
- Brussels Sprouts: Roasted Brussels sprouts tossed with olive oil and light seasonings offer a flavorful and nutritious side dish.
- Glazed Carrots: Sweet and tender glazed carrots add a touch of sweetness to the meal and provide a vibrant pop of color.
- Crispy Garlic Bread: Serve slices of crispy garlic bread or dinner rolls on the side for mopping up the delicious sauce from the chicken bake.
- Roasted Potatoes: Crispy air fryer roasted potatoes seasoned with herbs and spices are a comforting and satisfying side dish.
Recipe Variations
Here are a couple of delicious recipe variations for Million Dollar Chicken Bake. Feel free to customize them further with your favorite toppings and seasonings for a truly personalized dining experience.
- Jalapeño Popper Chicken Bake: Add diced jalapeños and shredded pepper jack cheese to the cream mixture for a spicy twist on the classic recipe. Top with crispy turkey bacon, pickled jalapeños, ritz crackers and sliced green onions before baking.
- Buffalo Chicken Bake: Mix buffalo sauce with the cream mixture. Top with ritz crackers, crumbled blue cheese, buffalo sauce and crispy bacon for a spicy and tangy twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it up to 24 hours until you’re ready to bake it. Just add the cracker topping right before baking.
You can make a homemade cream of chicken soup by creating a roux using chicken broth, butter, flour, and seasonings as a substitute. You can also use other flavors of cream soups like cream of mushroom soup.
This casserole freezes well. Just make sure to wrap it tightly or store it in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. It can be frozen for up to 2 months. Bake directly from the freezer but allow for extra cooking time.
Yes, you can substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts if you prefer. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
More Chicken Recipes
- Baked Tuscan Chicken
- Asiago Tortellini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
- Grilled Pollo Asado
- Tandoori Chicken Skewers
- Chicken Santa Fe Salad
Despite its name, Million Dollar Chicken Casserole won’t break the bank. With simple and affordable ingredients, you can create a gourmet-worthy dish without spending a fortune. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for cozy nights or weekend lunches. I hope you try it, enjoy it, and share it with your friends and family!
If you try this recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a star rating in the comment section below because I love hearing from my readers. Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on FACEBOOK |INSTAGRAM |PINTEREST for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Million Dollar Chicken Bake
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 can, 10.75 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 cups shredded chicken
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, 32 counts
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 175 degrees C then grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, softened cream cheese, soup and dry seasonings. Mix the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Add the shredded chicken to the mixture and combine until everything is well incorporated before transfering the chicken mixture to the greased casserole dish and spreading it out evenly.
- In a separate medium bowl, roughly crush 1 sleeve of Ritz crackers. Add 1/4 cup melted butter to the crushed crackers and mix well, ensuring the crackers are coated. Sprinkle the Ritz cracker mixture evenly over the chicken mixture in the casserole dish.
- Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the crackers turn golden brown. Once done, remove the chicken casserole from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients. Bring the cream cheese and other ingredients to room temperature for about 30 minuted for a smooth and creamy sauce.
- Use enough crackers. You will need 1 sleeve or about 32 Ritz crackers to make the topping.
- Bake well. Bake the casserole until it’s bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Tent with foil. If the cracker topping begins to brown too quickly during baking, loosely tent the casserole with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning while the interior finishes cooking.
- Customize if you like. Add vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli for extra nutrients, or experiment with different types of cheese for a unique twist.
