There are some family meals that just feel like a warm hug in a dish, and this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is precisely that. It’s the kind of dinner we turn to when the week has been long and we need something deeply satisfying without any fuss. The name might sound grand, but its beauty lies in its comforting, familiar flavours, elevated to something truly special. The creamy, cheesy sauce clings to every piece of tender chicken, all hidden under a golden, buttery cracker topping that provides the most wonderful crunch.

The inspiration for adding a touch of smoked paprika to the sauce came from a rich, creamy chicken dish I had at a little restaurant in Spain. It adds a subtle warmth that really makes this casserole sing. This is a recipe that always gets compliments whenever I make it for friends or family. It works beautifully for a Sunday dinner, a potluck where you want to bring something dependable and delicious, or simply a chilly Tuesday evening when only a hearty bake will do.

We’re talking about layers of flavour built from simple, wholesome ingredients. It’s a dish that proves you don’t need complicated techniques to create a meal that feels luxurious. The combination of textures—the soft chicken, the velvety sauce, and that crisp topping—is what makes every bite so memorable. Let’s get cooking!

Recipe Overview

This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is the epitome of a rich and savoury bake. The flavour is deeply creamy from a blend of cheeses and sour cream, with savoury notes from garlic, onion, and tender shredded chicken. The star of the show is the buttery, crisp topping made from crushed Ritz crackers. When I first tested this, I found that adding a sharp cheddar to the mix, rather than just a mild one, gave the sauce a much more pronounced and satisfying cheesy tang that cuts through the richness perfectly.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Servings: 6-8 people
• Difficulty: Easy

Why You’ll Love This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

• Genuine Flavour: The sauce is wonderfully complex without being complicated. You get the slight tang from the sour cream and cream cheese, a gentle texture from the cottage cheese (trust me on this!), and a deep, savoury note from the sharp cheddar and garlic.
• Ready in Under an Hour: From gathering your ingredients to pulling a bubbling, golden dish from the oven, this meal comes together in about 45 minutes, making it brilliant for weeknight dinners.
• Flexible Recipe: Feel free to stir in about 150g of cooked bacon lardons, a cup of steamed broccoli florets, or sautéed mushrooms. You can also swap the cheddar for Gruyère or Monterey Jack for a different flavour profile.
• Great for a Family Meal: This is one of those dishes that’s ideal when you want to gather everyone around the table. It’s hearty, satisfying, and feels like a special treat. For another great family meal, you should try my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.
• Family Tested: My kids, who can sometimes be picky about mixed dishes, absolutely adore this casserole. The crunchy topping is what won them over, and now they ask for it regularly!

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

⏱️ 15 min prep  •  🍳 30 min cook  •  👥 8 servings

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Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this casserole are all about creating a rich, creamy texture. I always use full-fat dairy for the best results; it makes a world of difference to the final sauce. For the topping, nothing beats the buttery flavour of Ritz crackers, so I recommend sticking with them if you can.

• For the Casserole Base:
• 700g cooked chicken, shredded or diced (from a rotisserie chicken or poached breasts)
• 225g full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
• 250g full-fat cottage cheese
• 240ml sour cream
• 120g sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• For the Crumb Topping:
• 1 sleeve (about 125g) Ritz crackers, crushed
• 85g unsalted butter, melted

Sara’s Tip: Make sure your cream cheese is truly at room temperature. If it’s too cold, it won’t blend smoothly, and you’ll end up with little lumps in your sauce. I usually take it out of the fridge an hour before I start cooking.

How to Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

The process for this casserole is wonderfully straightforward. We simply mix our creamy base, fold in the chicken, top it with that glorious buttery crumb, and bake until it’s golden and bubbling. It’s all done in one dish, which makes cleaning up a breeze.

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch (or similar 2-litre) baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until well combined and mostly smooth. Don’t worry if the cottage cheese leaves a few small curds; they will melt into the sauce as it bakes.
3. Stir in the grated sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until everything is evenly distributed.
4. Gently fold in the shredded cooked chicken and the sliced spring onions until the chicken is completely coated in the creamy mixture. I find that using a rotisserie chicken is a brilliant shortcut here, as the meat is already so tender and flavourful.
5. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish.
6. In a separate small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter. Stir until the crumbs are fully moistened.
7. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture, covering the entire surface.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly around the edges and the topping is a deep golden brown.
9. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set up slightly, making it easier to portion out.

Tips From My Kitchen

• Temperature Control: Using room temperature dairy (cream cheese, sour cream) is essential. It ensures the ingredients combine into a silky, uniform sauce without any curdling or lumps. Cold ingredients just don’t emulsify as well.
• The Secret Step: I learned that adding the shredded cheese to the creamy mixture *before* the chicken helps it distribute more evenly. This way, you get cheesy goodness in every single bite rather than clumps of melted cheese in just a few spots.
• Make-Ahead: You can assemble the casserole (without the topping) up to 24 hours in advance. Cover it tightly with cling film and refrigerate. When you’re ready to bake, prepare the cracker topping, sprinkle it over, and add about 10 minutes to the baking time.
• Storage: Leftovers keep wonderfully. Store any extra casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and warm in the oven at 160°C until heated through.

Equipment You’ll Need

• 9×13 inch baking dish (or a 2-litre casserole dish)
• Aluminium foil (for reheating)
• Large mixing bowl
• Small mixing bowl (for the topping)
• Spatula or large spoon
• Sharp knife and cutting board

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using Cold Ingredients: As mentioned, starting with cold cream cheese and sour cream will result in a lumpy sauce. Let them sit on the counter for at least 30-60 minutes before you begin.
• Baking at Too High a Temperature: A very hot oven (over 190°C) will burn the delicate cracker topping long before the centre of the casserole is properly heated through. Stick to 180°C for a perfectly golden top and a bubbly interior.
• Skipping the Rest Time: It can be tempting to dive right in, but letting the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes is crucial. This short wait allows the molten sauce to thicken slightly, so when you serve it, you get a beautiful slice rather than a soupy puddle.

What to Serve With Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Because this casserole is so rich and decadent, it pairs best with simple, fresh side dishes that provide a bit of contrast. If you’re looking for more chicken inspiration, check out these other Healthy Chicken Recipes.

• Steamed Green Beans: A side of crisp, steamed green beans tossed with a little lemon juice provides a fresh, clean counterpoint to the creamy casserole.
• A Simple Green Salad: A salad with a light vinaigrette dressing works beautifully to cut through the richness of the cheese and cream.
• Fluffy White Rice: Serve the casserole over a bed of fluffy rice to soak up every last drop of that delicious sauce.
• Wine Pairing: A dry, crisp white wine like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc complements the creamy flavours without overwhelming them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

A rich and creamy chicken casserole featuring a blend of cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream, all topped with a buttery and crunchy Ritz cracker crust.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 550

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Casserole Base

• 700 g cooked chicken shredded or diced (from a rotisserie chicken or poached breasts)
• 225 g full-fat cream cheese softened to room temperature
• 250 g full-fat cottage cheese
• 240 ml sour cream
• 120 g sharp cheddar cheese grated
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt adjust to taste
• 2 spring onions finely sliced

For the Crumb Topping

• 1 sleeve about 125g Ritz crackers, crushed
• 85 g unsalted butter melted

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch (or similar 2-litre) baking dish.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until well combined and mostly smooth. Don't worry if the cottage cheese leaves a few small curds; they will melt into the sauce as it bakes.
3. Stir in the grated sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until everything is evenly distributed.
4. Gently fold in the shredded cooked chicken and the sliced spring onions until the chicken is completely coated in the creamy mixture. I find that using a rotisserie chicken is a brilliant shortcut here, as the meat is already so tender and flavourful.
5. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into your prepared baking dish.
6. In a separate small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter. Stir until the crumbs are fully moistened.
7. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture, covering the entire surface.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbly around the edges and the topping is a deep golden brown.
9. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for at least 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to set up slightly, making it easier to portion out.

Notes

For best results, let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set. Using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver.

I really hope you and your family enjoy this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole as much as we do. It’s a true testament to how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly special and comforting. I’d love to hear how it turns out for you, so please feel free to leave a comment below and let me know!

Happy cooking,
Sara