Million Dollar chicken casserole is the ultimate easy comfort food, combining pre-cooked chicken smothered in a rich and creamy sauce topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs. A crowd-pleasing dinner for busy weeknights!
Preheat the oven to 350ºF/175ºC.Shred the chicken (or cut it into bite-sized pieces) if it isn't already.
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and seasonings, and mix well.Stir in the chicken until thoroughly coated.
Crush the Ritz crackers. Do so directly in a medium bowl OR, if easier, add them to a large Ziplock bag and use a rolling pin or the bottom of a heavy glass to crush them into a chunky consistency.
Melt the butter. Then combine the melted butter with the crushed crackers, and toss to coat.
Pour the chicken mixture into the casserole dish/baking dish and top with the crushed Ritz crackers mixture.
Transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until the filling is bubbling, and the crust is golden brown.
Allow the casserole to cool for about 10-15 minutes (it will thicken as it cools), then garnish with parsley if desired, and enjoy!
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Notes
Soften the cream cheese: Leave it to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes so it will combine well with the remaining ingredients.
If using a 13x9-inch pan: It's best to double all the ingredients.
To avoid burn: If the Ritz topping is browning too quickly, loosely tent the dish with foil to keep it from burning.
To make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free cream of mushroom soup and crackers.
Recipe Variations:
Add a can of green chilies, fresh chopped jalapeños, and/or a little cayenne pepper or Cajun seasoning for spice.
Add 1- 1 ½ cups of canned or cooked vegetables. I.e., carrots, peas, spinach (fresh not frozen), blanched broccoli, green beans, etc.
Add a layer of melty cheese beneath the Ritz. I.e., cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Mexican blend, Colby Jack, Gruyere, etc.
Sprinkle some fried onions over the topping, like in a green bean casserole.
Add 1- 1 ½ cups of cooked grain (al dente) like rice or quinoa.
Add 2 cups-ish of cooked egg noodles.
Store: After baking, allow it to cool (though ensure it isn't out of the fridge for longer than two hours) and store any leftovers plastic-wrapped or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.Check the blog post for more storage tips and serving suggestions.