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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Million dollar chicken casserole is a rich cream cheese and sour cream chicken bake topped with a deeply golden Ritz cracker crust. The filling stays creamy while the buttery crackers turn crisp and bubbly for a comfort food dinner that slices clean.
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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: 540
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken filling
  • 4 cup cooked chicken
  • 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
  • 1 salt to taste
  • 1 pepper to taste
Ritz topping
  • 1.5 sleeves Ritz crackers crushed
  • 4 tbsp butter melted
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 baking dish

Method
 

Prep and mix
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish with a thin coating of grease.
  2. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and ranch seasoning together until smooth and fully combined, with no visible streaks of cream cheese.
  3. Fold in shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper so the mixture tastes evenly savory.
  4. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish so it reaches the corners in an even layer.
Add topping and bake
  1. Mix crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter until the crumbs look evenly coated and slightly clumped.
  2. Spread the Ritz mixture over the chicken layer to cover the surface fully in an even golden layer.
  3. Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly all around and the cracker crust is deeply golden, with steam rising from the edges.
  4. Garnish with fresh chives right before serving for a fresh green finish.

Notes

Pro tip: for the crispiest cracker top, let the baked casserole rest 5 minutes so the bubbly layer thickens. Store covered in the fridge up to 3-4 days; reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended due to the creamy texture. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and sour cream (texture will be slightly less rich).