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This million-dollar chicken casserole will rise to the top of your comfort food favorites after just one bite! Tender chunks of chicken are smothered in a super creamy, ultra-cheesy sauce, studded with crumbled crispy bacon, and crowned with a buttery Ritz cracker topping. The combination is utterly irresistible! The whole family will love this warm, comforting casserole!
It makes a perfect weeknight dinner after a hectic day because it’s super comfort food and quick and easy to put together!
Try more of my million dollar recipes next! They’re some of the most popular recipes on the site: million dollar spaghetti, million dollar pie, million dollar dip, and my million dollar chicken! You’ll love them all. I promise ♥
Let’s make this million-dollar chicken bake!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: This is the magic ingredient that is in most million-dollar recipes. While the cream cheese is cold, I like to cut the block of cream chees into small cubes. Them, the cream cheese need to be softened.
- Cottage Cheese: Okay. Okay. I know a lot of people aren’t fans of this ingredient. But trust me on this one! When it’s mixed with the other cheeses and baked until it’s ooey-gooey and absolutely delicious! Yes, you can substitute it with ricotta, but it won’t be as creamy.
- Mozzarella: I know we’re all looking for shortcuts to get dinner on the table quicker, but using the pre-grated kind of cheese is one to skip if you can. It’s coated with cellulose (wood pulp!). No judgment if you use it, I do in some recipes.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Don’t skip the cream of chicken! This canned soup wonder is what brings that creamy, chicken flavor punch to your final dish. Cream of mushroom soup is my second choice.
- Poultry Seasoning: I love this seasoning mix. It’s a special blend of spices, typically sage, thyme, and marjoram, that most successfully enhances the flavor of the chicken.
- Bacon: I generally use uncured bacon because it doesn’t contain nitrates. It costs more, but it’s worth it to me because of the concern associated with nitrates about their potential cancer-causing effects.
- Cooked Shredded Chicken: If I don’t have any leftover chicken in my fridge, I generally use store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- If you want to start with uncooked chicken, simmer chicken breasts or thighs, chop or shred them, and they’ll be ready to use in the casserole.
- If you prefer dark meat, feel free to use cooked chicken thighs.
- Ritz Crackers: No Ritz crackers? No problem! Crush up pretzels or chips, or use panko bread crumbs.
- Butter: I use unsalted butter.
- Garnish: Use either sliced green onions or fresh parsley sprinkled on top.
Tips + Variations For Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Should I Add Salt? I don’t. Many of the ingredients that go into this dish have a high salt content, so I find adding salt isn’t necessary.
- This recipe is for an 8×8-inch baking dish. If you want to feed a larger group, you can double the recipe and bake it in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Switch The Crackers: Try subbing the Ritz with saltine, pretzels, or club crackers. You can change up the texture by changing the size of the cracker crumbs.
- More Topping: To change things up, I like to add a layer of cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese before I add the buttery crackers.
- Onion Powder: As a variation, add one teaspoon onion powder.
- Soup: You can use any of the flavors of “cream of…” soups.
- Lower the Carbs: Skip the Ritz cracker topping and use crushed pork rinds instead.
- Italian Flavor: Use pancetta instead of bacon, and use Italian seasoning instead of the poultry seasoning.
- Make it Spicy: Add your favorite hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture.
- Add Veggies! This casserole is great with peas, mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers added before baking.
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead Tips
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Refrigerator? Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap. They’ll last 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Can You Freeze This? Yes! This freezes well. The chicken casserole will last in the fridge for 4-6 months.
- How To Reheat: Thaw leftovers overnight in the fridge, then heat in the microwave.
- Make-Ahead Tips: Bake this casserole ahead, store it in the fridge or freezer, then reheat it after thawing.
What To Serve With Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe
I like to serve this on top of cooked buttered egg noodles or rice.
Since this casserole has a rich, cheesy, creamy sauce, I like to serve it with something lighter, like my copycat KFC coleslaw, Southern green beans, roasted green beans, roasted broccoli, honey butter skillet corn, Arkansas green beans, roasted carrots and parsnips, brown sugar glazed carrots, 1905 salad, strawberry salad, or a simple green salad tossed with my homemade balsamic vinaigrette. (By the way, this is my all-time favorite salad dressing, and it only takes a couple of minutes to make!)
How To Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Add cream cheese to a large bowl.
- Whip with an electric mixer.
- Add remaining casserole ingredients and stir to combine.
- Spread in the prepared baking dish.
- In a bowl, mix the Ritz crackers with melted butter until evenly coated.
- Sprinkle evenly over the chicken mixture.
- Bake uncovered (no need for aluminum foil!) until golden brown. Garnish with green onions, bacon, and parsley.
***See full instructions below.
More Delicious Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
- Dorito Chicken Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
- Chicken Divan
- Chicken and Dumpling Casserole
- TikTok Chicken Cobbler
- Chicken Fajita Casserole
- Chicken and Potato Casserole
- Cracked Out Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
This million dollar chicken casserole is smothered in creamy cheesy sauce, studded with bacon, and topped with buttery Ritz crackers! A true comfort food.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
Casserole:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of chicken soup low sodium
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried poultry seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 6 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
- 4 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
Topping:
- 30 Ritz crackers usually 1 sleeve
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced
- 2 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 8X8 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
- Add cream cheese (4 ounces) to a large bowl, and whip with an electric mixer. Add remaining casserole ingredients and stir to combine. Spread in prepared baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the Ritz crackers (30) with melted butter (4 tablespoons) until evenly coated. Sprinkle evenly over the chicken mixture.
- Bake uncovered, about 30-40 minutes, or until heated through. Garnish with 2 tablespoons green onions, 2 slices of crumbled bacon, and 1 tablespoon parsley. Serve
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Cream Cheese: This is the magic ingredient.
- Cottage Cheese: Okay. Okay. I know a lot of people aren't fans of this ingredient. But trust me on this one! When it's mixed with the other cheeses and baked until it's ooey-gooey and absolutely delicious! Yes, you can substitute it with ricotta, but it won't be as creamy.
- Mozzarella: I know we're all looking for shortcuts to get dinner on the table quicker, but using the pre-grated kind of cheese is one to skip if you can. It’s coated with cellulose (wood pulp!). No judgment if you use it, I do in some recipes.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Don’t skip the cream of chicken! This canned soup wonder is what brings that creamy, chicken flavor punch to your final dish.
- Poultry Seasoning: I love this seasoning mix. It's a special blend of spices, typically sage, thyme, and marjoram, that most successfully enhances the flavor of the chicken.
- Bacon: I generally use uncured bacon because it doesn’t contain nitrates. It cost more but it's worth it to me because of the concern associated with nitrates about their potential cancer-causing effects.
- Cooked Chicken: I generally use rotisserie chicken if I don't happen to have any leftover chicken in my fridge.
- If you want to start with uncooked chicken, simply simmer chicken breasts or thighs, chop or shred it, then it’s all ready to use in the casserole.
- Ritz Crackers: No Ritz crackers? No problem! Crush up pretzels, chips, or use panko bread crumbs.
- This recipe is made in an 8x8 inch baking dish. If you want to feed a larger group, you can double the recipe and bake it in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Lower the Carbs: Skip the Ritz cracker topping and use crushed pork rinds instead.
- Italian Flavor: Use pancetta instead of bacon, and use Italian seasoning instead of the poultry seasoning.
- Make it Spicy: Add your favorite hot sauce to the cream cheese mixture.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 650kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 51g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 1122mg | Potassium: 360mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1062IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 209mg | Iron: 2mg
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I made it yesterday. My son requested this for next week. A keeper! Thank you for your awesome recipe.
Woot woot! A new favorite. Thank you for updating us. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great recipe – except for the Ritz crackers which I was forced to eat as a kid and still have an extreme aversion to today. Swapped them out for Panko bread crumbs. Worked out fine. Thanks for posting.
So happy you enjoyed, Kathi!!