Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

✨ Before You Begin

✨ Watch the salt. This casserole gets plenty of seasoning from the bacon, cheddar, condensed soup, and Ritz crackers, so there’s no need to add extra salt. For the best flavor, I prefer simply cooked homemade chicken. If you’re using a well-seasoned rotisserie chicken, consider using no-salt-added cream of chicken soup or Ritz Hint of Salt crackers.

✨ Start with cooked chicken. The chicken should be fully cooked before it goes into the casserole. The oven is simply heating the filling through and browning the cracker topping.

✨ Roughly crush the Ritz. Leave some larger pieces instead of crushing the crackers into fine crumbs. They’ll give the topping much better texture and crunch.

Ingredients + Key Notes

Cooked Chicken: You’ll need 4 cups of cooked, chopped or shredded chicken. Homemade chicken gives you the most control over the seasoning, but rotisserie chicken is a convenient shortcut. Taste rotisserie chicken first because some brands can be quite salty.

Cream of Chicken Soup: One 10.5-ounce can makes the filling thick, creamy, and easy to assemble. If you’re using salty rotisserie chicken or are sensitive to sodium, Campbell’s No Salt Added Cream of Chicken Soup is a great option.

Sour Cream: Use full-fat sour cream for the richest, creamiest filling. Its slight tang also helps balance the richness of the cheese and bacon.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Sharp cheddar gives the casserole plenty of cheese flavor without needing additional cheese. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.

Bacon: Cook the bacon until crisp, then drain it well before adding it to the filling.

Green Onions: Green onions add fresh onion flavor without overpowering the casserole or requiring any sautéing.

Slivered Almonds: Don’t skip these unless you need to. The almonds are one of the ingredients that make Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole distinctive, and they add welcome texture to the creamy filling.

Hot Sauce: The small amount of hot sauce doesn’t make the casserole spicy. It adds a subtle tang that helps cut through the richness of the sour cream, cheese, and bacon.

Ritz Crackers: Use 1 (3.5-ounce) standard sleeve of Ritz crackers, roughly crushed. Measuring by weight is more reliable than simply saying “one sleeve,” since package sizes can vary. Ritz Hint of Salt crackers are an excellent choice if you want to reduce the overall sodium.

Butter: Four tablespoons of unsalted butter are enough to make the Ritz topping crisp, golden, and buttery without making an already-rich casserole greasy.

🥣 How to Make Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

Make the creamy chicken filling. In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cheddar cheese, cooked bacon, green onions, slivered almonds, and hot sauce. Stir until everything is evenly coated.

Spread into the baking dish. Spoon the chicken mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

Make the Ritz topping. Combine the roughly crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, tossing until the crumbs are evenly coated.

Top and bake. Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the casserole. Bake until the filling is hot and bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.

Let it rest. Allow the casserole to stand for about 5 minutes before serving. This gives the creamy filling a chance to settle slightly and makes it easier to portion.

⭐ Pro Tips

⭐ Don’t automatically add salt. Bacon, cheddar, condensed soup, and Ritz crackers already bring plenty of sodium to the casserole. Taste your ingredients first, especially if you’re using rotisserie chicken.

⭐ Homemade chicken gives you the most control. Plain cooked chicken keeps the casserole flavorful without pushing it into overly salty territory.

⭐ Use unsalted butter. There’s already plenty of seasoning in the other ingredients, so salted butter isn’t necessary.

⭐ Shred your own cheddar. Freshly shredded cheese melts more smoothly and gives the filling a creamier texture.

⭐ Don’t pulverize the crackers. Rough crumbs and a few larger pieces create a much better crunchy topping than cracker dust.

⭐ Don’t overbake. Everything in the filling is already cooked. Bake only until the casserole is thoroughly heated, bubbling around the edges, and golden on top.

Can I Make Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole Ahead of Time?

Yes. Assemble the chicken filling in the baking dish, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Keep the crushed Ritz and melted butter separate and add the topping immediately before baking so the crackers stay crisp.

If the casserole goes into the oven directly from the refrigerator, it may need a few extra minutes of baking time to heat all the way through.