This easy dinner recipe is always a big hit with the family!
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Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Quick, easy, and it's a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken.
- I love this on chilly fall days. Each creamy bite just melts in your mouth.
- Great to stock the freezer with! Just assemble it and freeze before you put the crackers on. See the instructions in the How to store section.
Casseroles (like this ricotta chicken) are the workhorses of my kitchen. I love them because they can be made ahead of time, frozen, stretched to feed more people, and the leftovers are delicious.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Use cooked chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
- Not a fan of cottage cheese? Cream cheese can be used instead. Make sure that you use room-temperature cream cheese for easy blending.
- If you are out of Ritz Crackers then crushed cornflakes make a delicious topping for this casserole recipe.
- Reduce the spice level in this casserole by switching out the pepper jack cheese for Colby jack or cheddar cheese.
- Add some vegetables. Try chopped broccoli, mushrooms, or carrots for a delicious twist on this dish.
- Add two cups of cooked noodles or rice before topping with the cracker crumbs. It will make it stretch and it's delicious.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and cream of chicken soup in a
mixing bowl . - Stir in pepper jack cheese and green onions and cooked chicken until combined.
- Mix together melted butter and Ritz crackers.
- Top chicken mixture with crackers and bake until golden brown.
🥫 How to store million dollar chicken
Refrigerator storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Freezer storage
This recipe doesn't freeze well after baking because of the crumb topping but you can freeze it before adding the cracker crumbs.
You'll follow the steps in the recipe card through step 5. Wrap carefully in plastic wrap and cover with aluminum foil.
I like to add a stick-on label with the date, what it is, and brief instructions for reheating.
Reheating instructions
If you're reheating several servings then bake uncovered in a 350F oven for 20 to 25 minutes until heated through.
Warm individual-sized portions up in the microwave checking every minute or so.
Thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen. Add the crumb topping as in step 6, and bake as directed in the recipe card.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: Assemble this casserole ahead, and just bake in the oven at dinner time to save time in the kitchen.
- If you get a rotisserie chicken it's likely that you'll just get 3 to 3 ½ cups of diced chicken out of it. That's fine for this recipe!
- Cream of mushroom soup can be used instead of cream of chicken.
- Use a rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even faster.
- Use any type of neutral-flavored cooked chicken or poached chicken breast for this recipe.
- Use Panko crumbs instead of crackers.
- Make this gluten-free by using gluten-free soup and a gluten-free cracker or pork rinds for the topping.
- Be sure to spray your casserole dish well with cooking spray for easy cleanup.
👩🍳 FAQs
Yes, this can be frozen for up to 3 months but leave off the crumbs. See complete instructions in the "How to store" section.
The Ritz crackers should be golden brown, and the sauce should be bubbly around the edges. An instant-read thermometer should say 165F.
Yes, Cornflakes, saltines, or even pork rinds will work well as a topping for this dish.
There are usually about 3 cups of chopped chicken in a rotisserie chicken. That's fine for this recipe!
📚 Related recipes
- Chicken Taco Casserole is easy to make and is one of the best chicken casserole recipes ever!
- French Onion Chicken Casserole is the ultimate comfort food and is filled with tender chicken and flavorful onions.
- Chicken Stuffing Casserole is the perfect recipe for busy weeknight dinners.
🍽️ Serve with...
A salad is always a good side dish when you're in a hurry.
When I have a bit of time I like to cook up a batch of these Southern Green Beans, add some drop biscuits to soak up the sauce, and pull one of my lemon icebox pies from the freezer!
None of those ideas hit just right? Well here are over 75 easy sides to serve with chicken chili and they'll work well with this million dollar chicken casserole recipe, too.
📞 The last word
When my kids were small casseroles was our main type of dinner. They're easy to make, they stretch to feed a lot of people, and they can be made and frozen when you have a few extra minutes.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars!
📖 Recipe
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 4 cups chopped cooked chicken, abut 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup pepper jack, shredded from a block
- 1 cup Parmesan, shredded
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup green onions, plus some for garnish
- 10.75 ounces cream of chicken soup
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried onion powder
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- 5 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Combine cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and cream of chicken soup. Mix until smooth.
- Stir in Pepper Jack, Parmesan, and green onions.
- Fold in the chicken until well mixed.
- Spread into prepared pan.
- Combine crushed crackers and butter.
- Sprinkle over the chicken mixture.
- Bake uncovered 30 to 40 minutes.
Notes
- Cream of mushroom soup can be used instead of cream of chicken.
- Use a rotisserie chicken to make this recipe even faster.
- Use any type of neutral flavored cooked chicken or poached chicken breast for this recipe.
- Use Panko crumbs instead of crackers.
- Make this gluten free by using gluten free soup and a gluten free cracker or pork rinds for the topping.
- Be sure to spray your casserole dish well with cooking spray for easy clean up.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published February 2022. Last updated August 9, 2023 for editorial improvements and more helpful information.
Deb says
We loved this chicken casserole. it was super easy to make and the crispy topping, fantastic! I’d ask about reheating instructions… but there weren’t any leftovers!
Marye says
Im so glad you liked it! Thanks for the mention of reheating instructions - they were accidentally left out. They're in there now!
Debbie says
I have not made it yet but it is very similar to a recipe I've made, but with several additional items. I can't wait to make this and I plan to substitute the ritz cracker or panko with.....wait for it.......french onions on top. Doesn't that sound yummy.....I will probably cook the casserole first and then put the french onions on under broiler to brown them.
Marye says
SOunds great!