Description
Comfort meets convenience in this irresistible Chicken Ritz Casserole, a crowd-pleasing dish that combines tender chicken, creamy sauce, and crispy cracker topping. Weeknight dinners become effortless when you can whip up this simple, satisfying meal that brings warmth and flavor to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups shredded chicken breast meat
- 10.75 ounces (305 grams) cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Topping Ingredients:
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C), ensuring an even temperature for consistent cooking.
- Combine shredded chicken with creamy soup and tangy sour cream or Greek yogurt in a spacious mixing bowl, stirring until ingredients are thoroughly blended.
- Transfer the chicken mixture into a lightly greased 9×13 inch baking dish, creating an even layer that covers the entire surface.
- Crush Ritz crackers into fine crumbs and mix with melted butter in a separate bowl, creating a rich, golden topping.
- Distribute the buttery cracker crumbs uniformly across the chicken layer, ensuring complete coverage for a crunchy texture.
- Optionally, sprinkle poppy seeds over the cracker topping for an extra layer of flavor and visual appeal.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a golden-brown crust and bubbling edges that indicate thorough heating.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes, letting the flavors meld and the dish settle before serving.
Notes
- Swap sour cream with Greek yogurt for a healthier, protein-packed alternative that keeps the creamy texture intact.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick time-saving shortcut that adds extra flavor and reduces prep work.
- Gluten-free version can be easily achieved by substituting Ritz crackers with gluten-free cracker crumbs or crushed cornflakes.
- Add herbs like thyme or parsley to the cracker topping for an extra layer of aromatic complexity and freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg