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Ultra close-up macro of bubbling cheesy million dollar chicken casserole with crispy golden ritz crackers

Cheesy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

This famous million dollar chicken casserole is the ultimate comfort food dinner! Shredded tender chicken is smothered in a luscious sauce of cream cheese, sour cream, and sharp cheddar, then topped with a generous layer of buttery crushed Ritz crackers baked until golden and shatteringly crisp.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 485
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

Creamy Cheesy Chicken Base
  • 4 cups cooked chicken breast shredded (or store-bought rotisserie chicken)
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup sour cream full fat recommended for richness
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded, divided
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt to taste
  • 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 stalks green onions thinly sliced, divided
Crispy Buttery Ritz Cracker Topping
  • 1 1/2 sleeves Ritz crackers approx. 48 crackers (5 oz), coarsely crushed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley finely chopped (optional for color)

Method
 

Step-by-Step Casserole Preparation
  1. Preheat Oven & Prep Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly coat a 9x13-inch ceramic baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
  2. Mix Velvety Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup together with a wooden spoon or hand mixer until completely smooth and cohesive.
  3. Season & Fold: Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, grated Parmesan, and half of the sliced green onions. Fold in the shredded chicken until every bite is lavishly coated in the velvety sauce.
  4. Layer in Baking Dish: Spread the chicken mixture evenly across the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish. Smooth the top with an offset spatula, then scatter the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar across the surface.
  5. Toss Buttery Cracker Topping: In a medium bowl, combine coarsely crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter and fresh parsley. Toss gently with a fork until the crumbs are thoroughly saturated in butter. Scatter the buttery crackers evenly over the chicken layer.
  6. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) for 28 to 32 minutes, until the sauce is vigorously bubbling around the edges and the cracker topping is deeply golden and shatteringly crisp.
  7. Rest & Serve Warm: Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with remaining fresh sliced green onions and cracked black pepper. Scoop hearty servings onto warm dinner plates and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 485kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 34gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 740mgPotassium: 380mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 850IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 260mgIron: 1.8mg

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