Description

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a creamy, comforting baked dish featuring tender cooked chicken blended with cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup. Topped with buttery crushed Ritz crackers, it delivers a crunchy golden crust over a rich and savory filling, perfect for a family dinner or potluck favorite.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Mixture

4½ cups chopped cooked chicken
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup cottage cheese
½ cup sour cream
1 (10.5-oz) can unsalted cream of chicken soup
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp dried onion powder

Topping

1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
5 Tbsp butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking, then set it aside.
Mix the filling: In a large bowl, combine the chopped cooked chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, dried onion powder, and the can of unsalted cream of chicken soup. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Spread this creamy chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
Prepare topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter. Sprinkle this buttery cracker mixture evenly over the chicken filling in the pan, ensuring a nice coverage to create a crispy topping during baking.
Bake the casserole: Place the baking dish uncovered into the preheated oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is heated through and bubbly.

Notes

You can use rotisserie chicken for convenience and added flavor.
The casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from cold.
For a lower-fat version, substitute light cream cheese and reduced-fat sour cream and cottage cheese.
To add a bit of freshness, garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Ensure the cracker topping does not burn by checking the casserole at the 30-minute mark, and tent with foil if needed.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken casserole, creamy chicken bake, Ritz cracker topping, comfort food, easy dinner