Ritz cracker chicken casserole is a creamy chicken casserole topped with buttery cracker crumbs. This easy dinner comes together in minutes with almost no prep!
Ritz cracker chicken casserole is a creamy, comforting chicken casserole. This casserole is made with just a few basic ingredients, and it takes just a few minutes of prep to make.
It's a great way to turn leftover cooked chicken into a new meal, and the recipe is flexible, so you can adapt it to fit your tastes.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Chicken: Feel free to use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
- Cream of chicken soup: Substitute with cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli soup for a different flavor.
- Sour cream: Use Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream for a lighter option.
- Dried thyme: Substitute with Italian seasoning or dried rosemary for different flavor.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Try a blend of your favorite cheeses.
- Ritz crackers: Panko breadcrumbs, other butter crackers, crushed tortilla chips, or gluten-free crackers can be used as alternatives.
How to make Ritz cracker chicken casserole
Here you'll find step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe. The full recipe, including ingredients, is given below.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F, and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried thyme, and pepper until well combined.
Step 3: Stir in the cooked chicken pieces and shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 4: Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out in an even layer.
Step 5: In a separate bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter, stirring until the crackers are evenly coated.
Step 6: Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture.
Step 7: Bake the casserole for 25 minutes, or until bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
Step 8: Remove the casserole from the oven, and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Tips
- Rotisserie chicken: This recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken or other cooked leftover chicken.
- Lighter: To make the casserole lighter, you can use plain, nonfat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and 98% fat free cream of chicken soup.
Serving suggestions
Here are some ideas to help you round out your meal:
- Green salad: Throw together a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette. It’s the perfect fresh contrast to the rich and creamy casserole.
- Steamed vegetables: Lighten things up with some steamed broccoli, green beans, or a colorful veggie mix. It's a simple that complements the main dish.
- Garlic bread: For those who enjoy a bit more indulgence, garlic bread makes a delicious side and is perfect for dipping into the creamy sauce.
- Roast asparagus or broccoli: Toss some asparagus or broccoli florets in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast it until it’s just right for a tasty side.
- Coleslaw: Add some crunch to your meal with a zesty coleslaw. It’s super refreshing alongside the creamy flavors of the casserole.
Storage
Store any leftover chicken casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 4 days when properly stored.
More chicken dinner recipes!
If you’ve tried this Ritz cracker chicken casserole recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!
You can follow me on Pinterest for even more delicious food!
Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed, about 1 ½ cups
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F, and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, dried thyme, and pepper until well combined.
- Stir in the cooked chicken pieces and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Transfer the chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out in an even layer.
- In a separate bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter, stirring until the crackers are evenly coated.
- Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture.
- Bake the casserole for 25 minutes, or until bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
- Remove the casserole from the oven, and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chicken: Feel free to use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
- Cream of chicken soup: Substitute with cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli soup for a different flavor.
- Sour cream: Use Greek yogurt or low-fat sour cream for a lighter option.
- Dried thyme: Substitute with Italian seasoning or dried rosemary for different flavor.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Try a blend of your favorite cheeses.
- Ritz crackers: Panko breadcrumbs, other butter crackers, crushed tortilla chips, or gluten-free crackers can be used as alternatives.
- Nutrition values are estimates.
Leave a Reply