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If you’re craving the ultimate cozy dinner, this Chicken Noodle Casserole is just the thing. Tender pasta, juicy chicken, and a rich, creamy sauce get baked together under a blanket of melty cheese for a meal that’s hearty, nostalgic, and downright crave-worthy.
This recipe comes straight from my Grandma’s recipe box, and it’s been a family favorite for generations. What makes it special is the luscious sauce—thicker, creamier, and more flavorful than most casseroles you’ve tried. With just 10 minutes of prep and everyday ingredients, you’ll have a bubbly, golden dish on the table that’s perfect for weeknights, potlucks, or Sunday suppers.
And if your family loves creamy favorites like my Chicken Tetrazzini or Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, this casserole will feel right at home. For a fun twist, try my cheesy Dorito Casserole, or switch things up with tender Crockpot Pork Tenderloin.
Let’s make this casserole!
Why This Recipe Works
- Grandma’s touch: A creamy, nostalgic recipe that’s been loved for generations.
- Cozy comfort: Tender pasta, melty cheese, and a rich sauce—what’s not to love?
- Weeknight-friendly: Only 10 minutes of prep before the oven takes over.
- Family-approved: Simple ingredients that please even picky eaters.
✨Before You Start
✨ Use quality pasta: Stick with a sturdy brand like Barilla spaghetti so it holds up well in the oven.
✨ Cook pasta just al dente: Remember, it’ll keep cooking in the oven—this keeps your casserole from turning mushy.
✨ Sauté the veggies first: This step deepens their flavor and makes the whole casserole more cohesive.
✨ Shortcut chicken: Rotisserie chicken is your best friend here. It keeps things easy without sacrificing flavor.
✨ Optional crunch: Add crushed Ritz crackers after baking for a golden, buttery topping with irresistible texture.
Ingredients for Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Spaghetti – Cook just until al dente so it holds up in the oven.
- Butter – For sautéing the veggies.
- Mushrooms & onion – Sautéing first builds rich flavor.
- Cream of chicken soup – The shortcut base of the creamy sauce.
- Sour cream – Adds tang and extra creaminess.
- Worcestershire sauce – Deepens the flavor.
- Black pepper – Simple seasoning.
- Cheddar cheese – Sharp cheddar gives the best flavor, but you can mix cheeses.
- Rotisserie chicken – A time-saver that keeps things tender and flavorful.
How To Make Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
Storing + Reheating + Freezing + Make-Ahead Tips
Storing
- Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating
- Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or cover the whole casserole with foil and warm in a 350°F oven for 15–20 minutes. If using a glass or ceramic dish, let it come to room temp before placing in the oven.
Freezing
- Assemble the casserole without baking, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.
Make-Ahead
- This casserole can be assembled a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate, then bake when ready to serve.
Food Safety
- If you’d like more info on food safety, check out this link.
What to Serve With Chicken Noodle Casserole
Fresh & Crisp Sides: A bright house salad with poppy seed dressing balances the creamy casserole perfectly.
Cozy Breads: Homemade crescent rolls or garlicky garlic bread are always welcome at the table.
Sweet Finishes: End on a nostalgic note with peach cobbler, buttermilk pie, or my pineapple sheet cake.
More Cozy Chicken Dinners You’ll Love
- White Chicken Enchiladas
- Poppy Seed Chicken
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Dorito Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
Tried This Recipe?
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If you made this Chicken Noodle Casserole, I’d love to hear what you thought! Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card and tag me on Instagram @gonna_want_seconds so I can see your cozy casseroles.
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen today — happy cooking, friends! ❤️ Kathleen
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms sliced
- 1/2 cup yellow onion finely chopped
- 2 (10.75-ounces)cans condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 fully cooked rotisserie chicken shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Cook pasta (8 ounces) according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter (2 tablespoons) then saute mushrooms (1 1/2 cups) and onion (1/2 cup) until both are nice and soft.
- In a large bowl mix soup (2 cans), sour cream (1 cup), Worcestershire sauce (1 teaspoon), and black pepper (1/2 teaspoon) until blended. And cooked mushrooms, onion, chicken (1 fully cooked), and spaghetti and fold until everything is evenly coated with sauce.
- Pour the spaghetti into a 9x13 dish and top with cheese (1 cup). Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until the casserole is heated through.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Sauté The Vegetables: When starting this cheesy chicken noodle casserole, it’s important to sauté your veggies first. Don’t skip this step. It brings out their balanced mellow flavors and produces a more cohesive flavor profile in the finished product. Trust me on this one. Here’s an article from Serious Eats on what sautéing does to them.
- Pasta – One important thing, though. Be sure you only cook your pasta just until al dente so it doesn’t turn into a mushy mess in the oven.
- You’ll also want to use good quality Italian pasta that can withstand the high oven temp without disintegrating. I like Barilla spaghetti.
- All about that crunch. Want to really jazz up this casserole? Sprinkle some crushed crackers over the top after baking, when the cheese is still bubbly and gooey. The extra texture is drool-worthy, while the added flavor of the cracker packs a fun punch. I like to use Ritz
I had a Costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge and scoured recipes for hours until settling on this one – great ingredients and great reviews – and it paid off !! I also added some diced celery to the mushroom onion mixture – this was so good ! We all loved it and looking forward to leftovers tonight! Thanks for posting 🙂
You’re so welcome Peggy! So glad you liked this recipe. I hope you’ll find many more. Thanks so much for leaving a comment and the 5 star review.
I made this today and it turned out delicious. I did add some diced celery to to the mushroom/onions mixture and used a small egg noodle for the pasta. I also added a few blanched broccoli florets at the end, plus the crushed buttered cracker crumbs on the top. Its a keeper, thank you for sharing your recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed this, Anne. I hope you find many more recipes here you enjoy <3
I really like this casserole. I made it today with leftover rotisserie chicken and several different pastas. You know how it is when you have odds and ends of pasta left in the box? This is easy to make and is wonderful as leftovers.
Easy peasy and super tasty! I am making it for the second time tonight! Definitely add the cracker crumbs at the end – it’s good for that bit of crunchiness. I also subbed in cream of mushroom for one of the soup cans because I only had one can of cream of chicken – just as good! (But I love love mushrooms!)
Hi, Jennifer! Thank you for your feedback! I love love this with crushed crackers! 🙂
Good and easy.
Thanks, Sharon!
Delicious!
Thanks, Helen! 😀 So happy to hear you liked it!
My boyfriend just got custody of his daughter who is used to nothing but takeout. So i spent hours last night going through recipes. All she would tell me is she liked chicken so after reading the reviews I decided this was going to be our “1st family dinner”. Myself and my boyfriend loved it and his daughter just went for 2nds.. Can’t tell You how thrilled I am. Thank you so much for this delicious recipe!!
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! Congratulations on your first family dinner <3
I really cant wait to make this. My son is very picky but he loves chicken soup!!!! I am not the one to stick to a recipe [unless im baking] thats why i love casseroles… So simple and fast. I will definitely be frequenting your website…and the name is so easy to remember love it !
Woot! Thank you so much, Rinny! ? Hope you and your son enjoy it!
This is seriously my favorite recipe! Ran across it a few months ago, and I’m currently making it for probably the 10th time! The flavor is absolutely perfect! Thank you so much for sharing!!! ❤️
You are so welcome, Courtney! I’m so happy it’s your favorite recipe. <3
Love this recipe! Going to make it for the third time tomorrow
Thanks, Anna! I’m so happy to hear that <3