Million dollar chicken casserole is an easy, creamy, and comforting meal that’s topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs. It’s the perfect dinner casserole for busy weeknights.
Why this recipe works
With simple ingredients like chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup you’ll have yourself this delicious million dollar chicken casserole. In our opinion, this dish isn’t complete without the crisp crumbled Ritz crackers on top for the perfect creamy-crunch ratio.
Whether it’s from leftovers or chicken you’d like to use up that’s sitting in the fridge or freezer, this is hands down the best casserole to make with chicken!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
CHICKEN – Cooked chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken will both work for this recipe.
ADDITIONS – Cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup come together to make this dish ultra-creamy and thick. Make sure your cream cheese is well-softened at room temperature. You can use homemade cream of chicken soup if desired.
TOPPING – The buttery Ritz cracker topping ties this chicken casserole together. If you are looking for a substitute, try saltine crackers or crushed pretzels.
How to Make The Best Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and seasoning. Mix well.
- To the same bowl add the chicken and stir to coat well. Pour into a 9×9 casserole dish.
- In a separate medium bowl add a sleeve of Ritz crackers and crush into small bits. Pour in the melted butter and toss to coat the crackers.
- Top the casserole with the Ritz crackers.
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Yes, million dollar chicken casserole freezes well. To do so, follow the instructions through step 4 (before adding the crackers) and store with an air-tight lid or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as normal, but covered with foil. You may need to add a few minutes since the dish is going into the oven cold.
Store with an air-tight lid or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Yes, for this casserole, you will need to use cooked chicken breast. We love using leftover shredded chicken or even store-bought rotisserie chicken. If you don’t cook the meat beforehand, it won’t properly cook in the oven.
Yes, of course! If you prefer dark meat you can certainly use that instead. You’ll need 4 cups of cooked chicken legs or thighs.
Yes, you can prepare the chicken casserole filling a day in advance. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. You can crush the crackers ahead of time but I would recommend storing them in a separate ziptop bag. Combine the melted butter with the crackers and add to the casserole just before baking. If you are using a glass baking dish, allow it to relax at room temperature until the chill is taken off before baking. For metal pans, you may need to add an extra couple of minutes in the oven if you are baking it straight from the refrigerator.
Serving Suggestions
Some people like to add bacon to their chicken casserole, so feel free to add some if desired. This dish is great for using up leftover chicken. Serve with a side salad, bread, or steamed veggies.
More Chicken Casserole Recipes
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Pin It Rate ItIngredients
- 4 cups chicken cooked and shredded – roughly 1 1/2 lbs of boneless chicken breasts
- 4 oz cream cheese softened at room temperature
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 10.75 oz condensed cream of chicken soup as-is, do NOT add water/milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 32 Ritz crackers 1 sleeve
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Easily double this recipe and bake it in a 13×9 casserole dish. Bake until thoroughly heated through.
- You can use a rotisserie chicken from the store or cook 1 1/2 – 2 lbs of chicken breasts. Dark meat will also work.
- Make sure your cream cheese is well-softened at room temperature. You can use homemade cream of chicken soup if desired.
- If you are looking for a substitute for the Ritz cracker topping, try saltine crackers or crushed pretzels.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces.4 cups chicken
- In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and seasoning. Mix well.4 oz cream cheese, 1 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, 10.75 oz condensed cream of chicken soup, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- To the same bowl add the chicken and stir to coat well. Pour into a 9×9 casserole dish.
- In a separate medium bowl add a sleeve of Ritz crackers and crush into small bits. Pour in the melted butter and toss to coat the crackers.32 Ritz crackers, 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- Top the casserole with the Ritz crackers.
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- To Freeze – Follow the instructions through step 4 (before adding the crackers) and store with an air-tight lid or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake as normal, but covered with foil. You may need to add a few minutes since the dish is going into the oven cold.
- Storing – Store leftovers in a container with an air-tight lid or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
- To Make Ahead– prepare the chicken casserole filling a day in advance. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and cover with a lid or plastic wrap. You can crush the crackers ahead of time but I would recommend storing them in a separate ziptop bag. Combine the melted butter with the crackers and add to the casserole just before baking. If you are using a glass baking dish, allow it to relax at room temperature until the chill is taken off before baking. For metal pans, you may need to add an extra couple of minutes in the oven if you are baking it straight from the refrigerator.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post was originally published here on December 28, 2021.
Amanda Davis
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Dorothy says
What if you do not have any, or prefer, cottage cheese? Is there a substitute?
Amanda Davis says
Ricotta is a common substitute for cottage cheese and should work fine.
Sarah McMahon says
How do you keep the crackers crunchy on top?
Amanda Davis says
Because the crackers get tossed with butter right before going into the oen, they maintain some of their crunch. If you toss the crackers with butter earlier in the prep process, they may sit and absorb the butter, making them softer.
Karen Lee says
I doubled recipe, added sauteed onions and celery, used one can of salt free cream of chicken and one low sodium cream of celery (when I have time, I make my own cream soup to control salt), used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and sprinkled top with Italian blend cheese before the Ritz. Also added additional seasoning – ground pepper, no-salt Mrs. Dash. We like things more seasoned, so I tasted the mixture before turning in to casserole dish, so I could add more seasoning if needed. I could see benefit of noodles since the mixture is very creamy, and peas or asparagus to add some veggies. Thanks for recipe, I think it’s easy to tweak to your own taste.
BRANDIE SINQUEFIELD says
I’m gonna add some egg noodles. Thanks for the recipe <3
Jody Champlin says
Delicious, but the Cream of Chicken Soup makes it a bit salty. We used gluten free Campbell’s Gluten Free Cream of Chicken Soup and Lance Gluten Free Crackers for the topping. Thrilled I found a way to make it, as I have a wheat allergy.❤️
Jennifer says
What would be a good side for this?
Amanda Davis says
As suggested in the post: Serve with a side salad, bread, or steamed veggies. Enjoy!
Dana Chuha says
Fantastic