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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Million dollar chicken casserole with a rich cream cheese and sour cream filling baked until hot and bubbly, then topped with a deeply golden Ritz cracker crust. Easy chicken casserole that delivers a creamy chicken interior with a crisp, buttery cracker finish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken casserole base
  • 4 cup cooked chicken Shredded.
  • 8 oz cream cheese Softened.
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 salt To taste.
  • 0.25 pepper To taste.
Topping
  • 1.5 sleeves Ritz crackers Crushed.
  • 4 tbsp butter Melted.
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives Chopped.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and mix the chicken filling
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish. Set it up so you can transfer the filling immediately after mixing.
  2. Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and ranch seasoning mix until smooth and combined. Stop when the mixture looks fully uniform with no cream cheese lumps.
  3. Fold in shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper. Mix just until everything is coated and evenly distributed.
  4. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared dish. Level the top so the cracker crust bakes in a consistent layer.
Add the Ritz topping and bake
  1. Mix crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter until evenly combined. The crumbs should look glossy and stick together when pressed.
  2. Spread the Ritz mixture over the chicken layer. Cover the surface completely so the top bakes crisp and golden.
  3. Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350°F until bubbly and the cracker crust is deeply golden. Watch for steam around the edges and a browned, crackly topping.
  4. Garnish with fresh chives. Let the casserole rest briefly so the filling settles before scooping.

Notes

Pro tip: use fully softened cream cheese so the filling stays smooth. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days; reheat in a 325°F oven until hot throughout. Freeze yes—freeze baked portions up to 2 months, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat. For a lower-fat swap, use light cream cheese and reduced-fat sour cream while keeping the same topping for the Ritz crunch.