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 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.
- 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.
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
This post was originally published here on December 28, 2021.
Amanda Davis
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Shirley says
An amazing classic.
I removed the cottage cheese and made it.
It was delicious and easy.
My grown kids who are picky eaters request it .
Serve with a salad and you are done.
Katherine says
Made this for dinner tonight and it is delicious. My picky four year old eat his whole plate and that’s a win for me!
Laquetta says
I rate this recipe a strong 5 out of 5! The flavor was so good I could have eaten it every day. The Ritz crackers were such a good finish to all the tastes in this dish. I used leftover chicken from store broasted. That’s the best chicken casserole I have ever had. Thanks so much for this recipe.
Kirin says
loved it! I seasoned the chicken with a simple rotisserie chicken rub and seasoned the cheese mixture with some extra seasoning (pepper, salt garlic powder, onion powder, and a bit of Italian seasoning) and it was perfect! made it with some roasted honey brown sugar carrots with onion, pepper, and garlic salt, and had a side salad with it and it was a great combination. the whole family loved it! will be making it again.
Tami says
We love this easy dish. I add one bag of frozen mixed veggies and some extra frozen peas to make it an all in one supper!
Jen says
Hate to be a Debbie Downer but sorry I did not care for this. It made good lasagna as a filling tho. Put this chicken casserole in the layers with jarred spaghetti sauce. Used cheddar cheese and parm cheese in the layers too.
Jason says
I’m making this tonight with precooked, shredded chicken. How long and what temp for an air fryer? Thanks!
Amanda Davis says
This is an oven recipe. We have not tested this in an air fryer. Should you decide to experiment we would love to hear your results!
CeiCie says
Please I see so many casseroles that call for Ritz crackers, which I absolutely hate, is there a suitable substitute?
Amanda Davis says
Sure, you can use any crackers you like
Jacqueline says
I topped with stove top stuffing, made with chicken broth. Drizzled cre of chicken soup on top. 👌
Honey says
Can you use ricotta cheese in lieu of the cottage cheese?
Amanda Mosley says
This dish is very bland
Pearl says
Well sweetheart, why don’t you season it to your liking
Kirin says
I agree with this. you HAVE to know how you like your food seasoned and always season it extra or less depending on that. I like it a little extra seasoned and it wasn’t bland at all. it was perfect because I knew to add more, but I may have not liked it as much as the recipe stands.
Jessica Wheeler says
My family loves this casserole. When my mom’s gonna stop by she will ask me to make this and she is a picky eater and judgy of food because she is a chef. I make this often! Thank you for the recipe.
Lorna Rigney says
I made this dish today and I substituted shredded cheese instead of putting cottage cheese in because I didn’t have any. I put the butter by accident in with the main ingredients instead of with the crackers. Then on top I put the crackers with shredded cheese on top. I think it will be a hit with my husband.
Kelley says
Total flop, tasted like cream cheese blech. Too creamy and soft for my pallet, like baby food. Needs something crunchy besides the topping, like broccoli or carrots or both, idk. *something* Its just blech…
Pearl says
Girl boo bye
Carolen F Bergeron says
excellent – family loved it.
Lauren says
Can you use cream cheese spread instead of block cream cheese? I know I’ve got the spread but not sure if I have block cream cheese
Amanda Davis says
That should be fine
Aubrey says
Why did mine turn out like soup?!!
Shay says
It came out incredibly Bland and mushy which I see a few people experience the same thing. It was edible but I don’t think I’ll be making this again.
Candy Ingram says
My teens and whole family just LOVED 😍
Stephanie Calvert says
Can I add frozen peas & carrots?
Amanda Davis says
I don’t see why not :)
Michelle says
I used cream of mushroom soup and put herb seasoned stuffing on top. Plated with a side of green beans and mashed sweet potatoes. Almost like a small thanksgiving meal. Perfect this time of season when the weather is cooling.
Mae Thompson says
OMG I got in a hurry and I added the butter to the chicken mixture instead of to the Ritz crackers how big a deal is that and then I cross the crackers just put a little butter on them and put them over the top. what do you think anybody help?
Amanda Davis says
Sorry just seeing this. How did it turn out?
Karen Lourdes Howes says
Fine I’m sure… ? You have such a fantastic website thank you so much
Cristan Kathy says
Great recipe.I had a rotisserie chicken and wanted something fast and tasty. This filled the bill..
I added fresh broccoli. Some extra seasoning. Will definitely make it again. Thank you.