Description
This Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a comforting, easy-to-make dish featuring tender cooked chicken combined with a creamy, cheesy base and topped with a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker crust. Perfect for busy weeknights or family dinners, it offers a versatile and crowd-pleasing meal that can be customized to your taste and dietary needs.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 to 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
Creamy Base
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom, or homemade white sauce for gluten-free)
- 1 cup sour cream or mayonnaise
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Optional seasonings: 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp paprika
Topping
- 2 cups Ritz crackers, crushed finely (or gluten-free crackers for gluten-free option)
- 5 tbsp butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start with cooked chicken—leftover rotisserie chicken works beautifully or quickly poach chicken breasts and shred them finely for tender, bite-sized pieces.
- Mix the Creamy Base: In a large bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream or mayonnaise, shredded cheddar cheese, and optional seasonings. Stir until everything is smoothly blended and creamy.
- Combine Chicken With the Mixture: Fold the shredded chicken into the creamy base, ensuring every piece is coated in that luscious sauce to keep the casserole moist and flavorful.
- Prepare the Ritz Cracker Topping: Crush the Ritz crackers finely, then mix with melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated and buttery, ready to create a crisp topping.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the chicken mixture into a greased baking dish (about 9×13 inches). Evenly sprinkle the buttery Ritz cracker crumbs over the top, creating that signature golden crust.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-30 minutes until the casserole bubbles gently and the cracker topping is beautifully golden brown.
Notes
- Shred Chicken Finely: Smaller pieces distribute flavor more evenly and mix better with the creamy sauce.
- Don’t Skip the Butter Mixture: Mixing crackers with melted butter is key to achieving that irresistible crispy topping.
- Use Fresh Cheese: Freshly grated cheese melts smoother and better than pre-shredded variants.
- Cover While Baking: Tent aluminum foil over the dish if it browns too quickly, to avoid burning the topping.
- Let It Rest: Allow the casserole to rest 5-10 minutes before serving for easier slicing and to lock in flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/6 of casserole)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg