Description
This Creamy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a rich and comforting dish that combines tender shredded chicken with a creamy blend of cheeses and sour cream, topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust. Perfect for family dinners, this casserole is easy to prepare and bakes to a bubbly, golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Cheese Mixture
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tbsp chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together. Mix thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Add Chicken and Cheese: Fold in the shredded cooked chicken along with the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Stir gently until evenly combined.
- Spread in Baking Dish: Transfer and spread the chicken and cheese mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface for an even bake.
- Make the Topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, mixing until the crumbs are evenly coated.
- Top the Casserole: Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the chicken casserole to form a crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown and crisp.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven, garnish with chopped green onions if desired, and allow it to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy warm.
Notes
- For added flavor, you can mix in some chopped cooked bacon or green chilies into the casserole mixture before baking.
- This casserole can be made a day ahead and refrigerated; just increase baking time slightly when reheating.
- Use gluten-free crackers if you need to make this casserole gluten-free.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or oven.
