Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, blending creamy textures with hearty chicken and crispy crackers. Southern charm and rich flavors promise a delightful dinner that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
Seasoning and Topping:
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary canvas by warming the oven to a cozy 350°F, setting the stage for a delectable transformation.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, harmonize shredded chicken with creamy companions – velvety cream of chicken soup, luxurious mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, and sharp cheddar cheese, blending until ingredients embrace.
- Transfer the luscious amalgamation into a rectangular 9×13 inch baking receptacle, spreading evenly to create a uniform landscape.
- Craft a crispy crown by pulverizing Ritz crackers and marrying them with molten butter, creating a golden, crunchy topping.
- Lavishly scatter the buttery cracker mixture across the chicken base, ensuring complete coverage for maximum textural delight.
- Slide the assembled casserole into the preheated oven, allowing it to simmer and meld for 30-35 minutes until the surface turns a mesmerizing golden brown and the interior bubbles with anticipation.
- Rescue the steaming masterpiece from the oven, letting it rest momentarily before serving piping hot, ready to enchant eager palates.
Notes
- Swap regular chicken for rotisserie chicken to enhance flavor depth and save preparation time.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise to reduce calories and boost protein content for health-conscious eaters.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting Ritz crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes for a crispy topping.
- Add fresh herbs like thyme or parsley to the chicken mixture for an extra layer of aromatic complexity and brightness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 50 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg