This million-dollar chicken casserole doesn’t cost a fortune, but it does taste like a million bucks. A rich filling of chicken, cream cheese, cottage cheese and cream of chicken soup comes together in mere minutes. A sprinkling of buttered crackers tops the filling to create a crunchy, golden crust.
Million-dollar chicken casserole is comfort food at its finest. It’s easy to make and fantastic for using up leftover chicken. Pair it with steamed broccoli and cooked noodles for an easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients for Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Shredded cooked chicken: This recipe is great for leftover or rotisserie chicken. You can use white meat or dark meat.
- Cream cheese: Soft cream cheese is easier to mix than cold cream cheese. Let the cream cheese stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to soften it. If you’re in a rush, place the cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it in the microwave on high for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Sour cream: This tangy ingredient is thick and creamy. Its light acidity balances the other rich ingredients.
- Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese adds a lovely texture and boosts the savory quality of our million-dollar chicken bake.
- Condensed cream of chicken soup: If you’re concerned about sodium, skip the store-bought can, and make a homemade condensed cream of chicken soup.
- Ritz crackers: These buttery crackers add a crunchy element to this savory casserole.
Directions
Step 1: Combine the chicken mixture
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Beat in the soup, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir in the chicken and cottage cheese.
Step 2: Add the crunchy topping
Transfer the chicken mixture to a greased 9-inch square baking dish. In a bowl, stir together the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Sprinkle over the chicken mixture.
Step 3: Bake the million-dollar chicken casserole
Bake, uncovered, until heated through, 25 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with green onions, and serve.
Recipe Variations
- Add cheese: Stir in shredded cheese to give the dish a melty texture and a flavor boost. Most melting cheeses would work. Try cheddar cheese, mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
- Make it heartier: Add hot cooked rice or noodles to make the dish more filling. The mixture will take up more space, so consider baking it in a larger dish.
- Stir in vegetables: Add vegetables to make this a one-dish meal. Sauteed onions, baby spinach, broccoli florets and peas are all excellent options.
- Change up the topping: Experiment with different crunchy toppings. You can use panko bread crumbs, crushed potato chips, saltines, pretzels or even pork rinds.
- Substitute ranch seasoning: Instead of using onion and garlic powder, use flavor-packed ranch salad dressing mix.
Can you make million-dollar chicken casserole ahead of time?
Million-dollar chicken casserole is a great make-ahead dish. Prepare the chicken filling in advance, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. How long it lasts depends on the age of the cooked chicken. In general, cooked chicken will last in the fridge for three to four days.
When you’re ready to eat, let the mixture stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, pour it into a baking dish. Add the crunchy topping, and bake as directed.
How to Store Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole
Store leftover million-dollar chicken casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Can you freeze million-dollar chicken casserole?
Many chicken casserole recipes freeze well, but million-dollar chicken casserole does not. It contains a lot of dairy ingredients, which can separate in the freezer and become gritty and grainy when thawed.
Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole Tips
Can you use store-bought rotisserie chicken to make million-dollar chicken casserole?
Store-bought rotisserie chicken tastes great in million-dollar chicken bake. One large rotisserie chicken will yield 4 to 5 cups of cubed or shredded chicken.
What can you serve with million-dollar chicken casserole?
Million-dollar chicken casserole is hearty and rich, so we like to serve it with green vegetables like sauteed green beans, air-fryer Brussels sprouts or steamed lemon broccoli. Or, to make the dish more filling, serve it over cooked rice or noodles.
Can you put raw chicken in million-dollar chicken casserole?
No, you should only use cooked chicken in million-dollar chicken casserole. (Psst: Here’s how to shred chicken quickly.)
