Description
This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a creamy, comforting dish featuring shredded chicken blended with cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar, topped with a buttery crushed cracker crust. It’s baked to golden perfection, making it an easy and satisfying meal that serves six. Optional add-ins like smoked paprika, turkey bacon, or veggies can be included for personalized flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Creamy Filling
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Crispy Topping
- 1 sleeve (about 1 ½ cups) buttery crackers, crushed
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
Optional Add-Ins
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika for extra flavor
- ¼ cup cooked, crumbled turkey bacon
- ½ cup chopped spinach or peas for added veggies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Make Creamy Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Chicken and Cheese: Fold in the shredded chicken and shredded cheddar cheese, mixing thoroughly to ensure even distribution throughout the creamy base.
- Prepare Casserole: Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly into the greased baking dish, smoothing the top for even baking.
- Make Topping: In a small bowl, combine crushed buttery crackers with melted butter until the crackers are fully coated and crumbly.
- Top Casserole: Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the top of the chicken casserole, covering it completely to form the crispy crust.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cracker topping turns golden brown and the filling bubbles around the edges.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions if desired before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, stir in ½ teaspoon smoked paprika into the creamy filling.
- Add ¼ cup cooked, crumbled turkey bacon or ½ cup chopped spinach or peas for additional texture and nutrients.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispiness.
- Use gluten-free crackers to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Make sure the chicken is fully cooked before preparing the casserole.
