Description
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole brings southern comfort to dinner tables with creamy, cheesy goodness. Homemade comfort blends tender chicken, rich cream cheese, and buttery crackers for a satisfying meal that delights families gathering around the table.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (about 1 lb or 454 g) cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup (about 113 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (226 g) cottage cheese
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 oz or 298 g) cream of chicken soup
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- 6 tbsps (85 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried parsley (optional for added flavor)
- Chopped green onions or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and position oven rack in the center, preheating to 350°F for optimal cooking conditions.
- Mixture Creation: Blend shredded chicken with cream cheese, sour cream, and selected seasonings, whisking thoroughly to create a harmonious and creamy protein foundation that ensures rich flavor throughout the dish.
- Assembly: Evenly spread the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating a smooth base layer that will serve as the primary flavor component of the casserole.
- Cheese Layer: Generously cover the chicken mixture with a complete blanket of sharp cheddar cheese, ensuring full surface coverage to develop a luxurious melted texture.
- Cracker Topping: Combine crushed crackers with melted butter, creating a golden, crispy coating that will provide a delightful textural contrast to the creamy underlying layers.
- Final Layering: Meticulously distribute the buttery cracker mixture across the cheese surface, guaranteeing a uniform and complete coverage that will transform into a beautiful golden crust during baking.
- Baking Process: Slide the casserole into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, allowing the topping to achieve a rich golden-brown hue and the cheese to become perfectly melted and bubbly.
- Resting and Finishing: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes, allowing the internal temperature to stabilize and flavors to meld together harmoniously.
- Garnish: Sprinkle finely chopped green onions across the top to add a fresh, vibrant finish that enhances both the visual appeal and flavor profile of the dish.
Notes
Prevent Soggy Topping: Crush crackers coarsely and mix thoroughly with melted butter to ensure crispy, golden-brown texture that stays crunchy throughout baking.
Temperature Precision: Use room temperature cream cheese for smoother blending and more consistent mixture, preventing lumpy or uneven texture in the casserole.
Protein Flexibility: Easily swap chicken with turkey, pulled pork, or plant-based alternatives like shredded jackfruit for diverse dietary preferences and flavor variations.
Enhance Flavor Depth: Consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika or garlic powder to the protein mixture for extra complexity and aromatic richness in each bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 436
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 871 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 112 mg