Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole will have your taste buds dancing with it’s creamy and savory flavor, chunks of hearty chicken, and topped with a crunchy and buttery cracker topping. So simple to make for a quick weeknight dinner. 

For the perfect desert to this casserole try my No Bake Millionaire Pie. 

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe

Casseroles sometimes don’t get the attention they deserve! This million dollar chicken casserole definitely proves that with it’s savory and buttery flavor, creamy texture, and chunks of hearty chicken throughout. You might look at the ingredients and think there is no way it can taste good, but I promise that once you try it, you’ll understand why ‘million dollars’ is in its name. 

Simple to make with leftover cooked chicken (perfect for grabbing a rotisserie chicken at the store), a creamy mixture with convenient ingredients like canned soup and other creamy items, and then top it all off with a crumble of buttery Ritz crackers. You really can’t go wrong with this one. 

Ingredients Needed and Substitutions

• Cooked Chicken – This is a great recipe to use a rotisserie chicken in, leftover chicken from another meal, or if you cook a bunch of chicken in the crockpot to use throughout the week then this is a great way to use it up. The chicken can be shredded or chunked (whatever you prefer) but it does need to be cooked.
• Cream Cheese – Full fat cream cheese tastes the best but the 1/3 reduced-fat cream cheese can be used as well. 
• Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup – Cream of celery, cream of mushroom, or cream of chicken with garlic herbs are all great substitutes. I have only ever used the cream of chicken soup in this recipe. There is also a ‘healthy choice’ option that can be used when making it. 
• Cottage Cheese – I know lots of people and kids mainly don’t like the texture of cottage cheese but there is a fix for that. If you don’t want the texture and chunks then add the cottage cheese into a food processor or food chopper and blend until it’s smooth. You can also try replacing it with ricotta cheese but for the best creamy flavor and texture, I highly recommend using cottage cheese. 
• Sour Cream – Regular fat or reduced-fat sour cream both work well for this casserole.
• Onion Powder & Garlic Powder
• Ritz Crackers – Any cracker can be substituted but Ritz crackers have the best buttery and savory flavor which is perfect for the crunchy topping for our casserole.
• Melted Butter
• Chopped Parsley or Sliced Green Onions – Optional garnishes for the top of the casserole after it’s baked.  

Step-by-Step Directions For How To Make This Creamy Chicken Casserole

For detailed directions be sure and read to the bottom of the page where there is a more detailed recipe card with all the helpful information you will need to successfully make this recipe. 

• Prep : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×9 baking pan and spray with cooking spray. Set aside for later. 
• Step 1 : Add the chicken to a large mixing bowl. 
• Step 2 : In a separate smaller mixing bowl add the cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, and dried seasonings. Stir together until combined. 
• Step 3 : Pour the creamy mixture over the chicken and mix well until combined thoroughly. 
• Step 4 : Pour it into the prepared baking dish. Mix the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter until combined. Sprinkle this evenly over top the casserole.
• Step 5 : Bake for 40 minutes, uncovered, or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling up the sides. 

What Is Million Dollar Casserole?

I do not know how it got it’s name but I would imagine it’s from the idea that once you taste this creamy casserole your taste buds will definitely be thinking that it is worth a million bucks. 

Traditionally this casserole is very creamy and savory with chunks of chicken and a buttery crispy cracker topping. It’s a simple casserole for dinner that uses convenient ingredients like cooked chicken, canned items, and several creamy ingredients that really set this casserole apart from the rest. 

I also love that million dollar chicken casserole does not have pasta in it! Most casseroles involve pasta of some sort and this one just focus on the tender chicken and creamy sauce. 

Storage Instructions

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap or put individual portions inside airtight containers, for 3-4 days. The casserole can also be frozen, with the cracker topping off, for up to 3-4 months. To freeze, cover the casserole dish tightly in plastic wrap and then wrap it again in aluminum foil. 

Reheat leftovers by warming them up in the microwave. To reheat from frozen, allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge, put the cracker topping on, and then bake according to recipe directions below. 

Serving Suggestions

This is best served with some soft of vegetable side dish. Try my Slow Cooker Sweet Carrots, Roasted Parmesan Potatoes, Oven Roasted Parmesan Brussels Sprouts, a green salad with chopped cucumber and halved grape tomatoes, or simply warm up some frozen green beans or whatever other vegetable your family likes. 

For a carb side dish serve some of my Parmesan Garlic Bread. 

I usually prefer serving it with a sweeter, fruitier side dish like this Pistachio Fluff or Pear Jello Recipe. 

Recipe Tips

Here are a few of my helpful tips that will help you recreate this recipe in your own kitchen ♥

• Softened Cream Cheese : To avoid lumps in the creamy mixture make sure the cream cheese is softened so it mixes in smoothly. Either let it sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to starting OR put it in the microwave and microwave it for about 15-20 seconds. 
• Cook Uncovered : This casserole needs to be cooked uncovered to ensure that the cracker topping gets really crispy and golden brown. It also helps the casserole set and thicken instead of trapping the moisture inside the casserole dish like covering it would. 
• Tasty Additions : Add whichever dried seasonings you prefer (Italian seasoning, basil, etc.). Add some crumbled bacon in with the chicken or use it as a garnish. Add some cooked small chopped vegetables into the chicken mixture before baking it. 
• Gluten-Free : Make sure you are using gluten-free crackers (Ritz are not) and that the cream of chicken soup is gluten-free as well. 

More Casserole Recipes

• Fiesta Chicken Casserole
• Creamy Beef Noodle Bake
• Easy Chicken Cobbler
• Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
• Ravioli Bake
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole
• Chicken Pot Pie Tater Tot Casserole
• Cheesy Taco Spaghetti Casserole