Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
With the savory flavors of the classic dip, this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is an indulgent dinner the whole family will love! Loaded with tender chicken in a creamy sauce and a crunchy golden brown topping and only takes about 20 minutes to prep.
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I'm a huge fan of easy casseroles that take simple ingredients and turn them into something gourmet and delicious! This chicken casserole has become one of my family's favorite recipes, and I love that it's reliable and not difficult to put together.
Why this Recipe Works
Looking for a brand-new chicken casserole recipe that's sure to be a huge hit? This million-dollar casserole takes some pointers from the classic million-dollar dip and results in a mouthwatering chicken casserole.
So easy to put together, this flavor-packed casserole is great for meal prepping or for feeding a crowd. Thanks to a delicious cracker topping, it has a buttery crunch that adds another layer of deliciousness!
And for even more great chicken recipes, you should check out my No Peek Chicken and Rice Casserole for something nice and hands off, or this classic Chicken Cobbler Casserole.
Ingredients Needed
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Provides a nice base for this creamy casserole.
- Cream Cheese: Adds more creaminess and rich, tangy flavor.
- Mayonnaise: Use real mayo!
- Cheddar Cheese: I like to use a nice sharp cheddar for lots of good cheesiness.
- Seasonings: You'll want to add some garlic powder, onion powder, and some black pepper to taste.
- Chicken Breast: I prefer boneless skinless chicken breast, but you can also use chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat.
- Bacon
- Green Onions
- Ritz Crackers: Any kind of buttery cracker works to create a crunchy topping for your chicken casserole.
- Salted Butter
How to Make this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- Step 1: Combine the cream of chicken, cream cheese, mayo, and most of the cheese in a large mixing bowl.
- Step 2: Mix in the seasonings until everything is well combined.
- Step 3: To the same large bowl, add diced chicken, half of the bacon and half of the green onions. Stir until coated in the creamy mixture.
- Step 4: Transfer the chicken mixture to a prepared casserole dish and use a rubber spatula or spoon to even out the top. Place in your preheated oven and bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
- Step 5: While the casserole bakes, combine crushed crackers and melted butter. Remove the baking dish from the oven after 40 minutes, give it a mix, then top with cheese.
- Step 6: Finish with a layer of the cracker mixture and bake for another 20 minutes or so, until the cheese is melted and the crackers are golden brown.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to give the casserole a nice good mix in between bakes. This will ensure all of the ingredients combine properly so you get maximum flavor in every bite!
- You can use cooked chicken as a substitute if you prefer.
- Feel free to use a blend of different kinds of cheese to alter the flavor of this casserole slightly.
- If you have leftovers, allow them to cool and transfer to an airtight container or cover the casserole dish well with some plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Casserole leftovers should last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
- To reheat, put the leftovers back in the oven at 350 and cook until heated through.
Recipe FAQ's
This dish incorporates a lot of the same ingredients as million dollar dip, in particular the bacon, cheddar, and green onions.
Sometimes raw chicken has a bit of extra moisture in it that can make a casserole watery. Make sure to pat the chicken dry before adding it to your casserole to make sure this doesn't happen!
Absolutely! Assemble the casserole up to step 6 before baking, then cover it tightly and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. When ready to cook, remove the chilled casserole from the refrigerator. When you start preheating the oven, bake according to the remaining instructions.
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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (10.5 oz) can of condensed cream of chicken soup, 10.5oz
- 8 oz cream cheese cubed and softened at room temperature
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded & divided (I recommend sharp cheddar)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds chicken boneless skinless, cut into ¾” cubes
- ½ pound bacon cooked and chopped, divided
- 1 bunch green onions sliced, divided
- 1 3 oz sleeve of Ritz crackers, crushed about 25 crackers (normal box size)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly coat a 9x13” casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cream of chicken soup, cubed, softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, and 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix with a wooden spoon or spatula until combined.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until combined.
- Add in the diced chicken, ½ of the chopped bacon, and ½ of the chopped green onions. Toss well to coat.
- Spread the mixture evenly into the casserole dish.
- Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
- While the casserole is baking, in a small bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers and the melted butter.
- After baking for 40 minutes, gently re-mix the baked chicken using a wooden spoon or spatula. This action ensures all the ingredients are fully combined.
- Top the baked chicken mixture with the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese and the buttered Ritz cracker mixture.
- Bake for an additional 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and cool for about 5-10 minutes.
- Garnish with the remaining bacon and green onions sprinkled over the top.
- Serve while warm.
Video
Notes
- Mixing the casserole after the first bake is helpful to ensure all the cream sauce emulsifies before topping.
- Cooked chicken can be used as a substitute, bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
That Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is really worth a Million!
Thanks for the recipe,
Cecilia
Yay Larie, happy it was a hit!Thanks for the great review I appreciate it 🙂
Awesome casserole!!