Description

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a rich and creamy baked casserole featuring shredded white meat chicken mixed with a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, ricotta, and cream of chicken soup, topped with mozzarella cheese and a buttery Ritz cracker crumb crust. This comforting dish is perfect for family dinners and potlucks, combining savory flavors with a crunchy topping.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Mixture

4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 cup sour cream
¾ cup ricotta cheese
10.5 ounces cream of chicken with herbs (1 can)
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¾ teaspoon garlic salt
4 cups shredded white meat chicken (2 pounds)

Topping

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded is best)
1½ cups Ritz cracker crumbs (from 1 sleeve of 32 crackers)
⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
Smooth Cream Cheese: Place the softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until smooth and loosened for easy blending with other ingredients.
Combine Dairy and Seasonings: Add sour cream, ricotta cheese, cream of chicken with herbs soup, garlic salt, onion powder, and black pepper to the cream cheese. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
Fold in Chicken: Add shredded white meat chicken to the creamy mixture and gently fold until the chicken is evenly coated.
Transfer to Baking Dish: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish.
Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the chicken mixture.
Prepare and Add Topping: In a small bowl, mix Ritz cracker crumbs with melted unsalted butter until the crumbs are coated. Evenly sprinkle this crumb mixture over the mozzarella cheese layer.
Bake: Bake the casserole at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it is hot and bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to let it set and make serving easier.

Notes

For best results, use freshly shredded mozzarella cheese rather than pre-shredded.
Be sure to soften the cream cheese to room temperature before mixing to ensure a smooth blend.
This casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; add an extra few minutes to the baking time if baking from chilled.
Use unsalted butter to control the salt level in the dish.
The mixture can be doubled for larger gatherings by baking in a larger dish or multiple casserole dishes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Dinners
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, chicken casserole, creamy chicken bake, baked chicken casserole, Ritz cracker topping, comfort food, easy dinner casserole