Go Back
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Dinner

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.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 550

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.