Description
This classic Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping for the ultimate comfort food dish. Perfect for family dinners or potlucks, this casserole features layers of flavorful chicken and vegetables bound together with a rich, creamy sauce and topped with a crispy, golden-brown cracker crust that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed (rotisserie chicken works great)
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers (about 60 crackers)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (frozen peas, carrots, and corn work well)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, and milk. Whisk until smooth and well-blended.
- Add the cooked chicken, mixed vegetables, diced onion, minced garlic, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper to the soup mixture. Mix gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Crush one sleeve of Ritz crackers into coarse crumbs and mix with half of the melted butter.
- Pour half of the chicken mixture into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheese, then top with the first layer of buttered Ritz cracker crumbs.
- Add the remaining chicken mixture, then top with the remaining cheese.
- Crush the second sleeve of Ritz crackers and mix with the remaining melted butter. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
- Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a healthier version, substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream and use low-sodium soups.
- Make ahead option: Prepare the casserole up to the point of baking (without the final cracker topping), refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then add the cracker topping just before baking. Add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
- Freezing instructions: This casserole freezes well! For best results, freeze before adding the final cracker topping. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- If the top browns too quickly during baking, cover loosely with foil for the remainder of the cooking time.
- Leftover turkey works wonderfully in place of chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg