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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. Expect a bubbly filling and a buttery, crackly topping that turns every scoop into a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner.
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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: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken filling
  • 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
Ritz cracker topping
  • 1.5 sleeves Ritz crackers crushed
  • 4 tbsp butter melted
  • 1 tbsp fresh chives chopped

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and assemble
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13 baking dish. Set it on a level surface so the casserole bakes evenly.
  2. Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and ranch seasoning until smooth and combined. The mixture should look glossy and lump-free.
  3. Fold in shredded chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, and garlic powder, then season with salt and pepper. Mix just until everything is coated.
  4. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared dish. Flatten the top so the topping layer bakes at the same thickness.
Bake and finish
  1. Mix crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter until evenly combined. It should resemble damp crumbs that can be spread into a single layer.
  2. Spread the Ritz crumb topping over the chicken layer. Cover the surface completely for a uniformly golden crust.
  3. Bake for 30-35 minutes until bubbly and the cracker crust is deeply golden. Look for active bubbling around the edges and a crisp, browned top.
  4. Garnish with fresh chives immediately after baking. The bright green topping signals the casserole is ready to serve.

Notes

Pro tip: shred the chicken fairly small so the filling bakes into a cohesive, scoopable texture. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3-4 days; reheat covered in the oven at 325°F until hot. Freezing is not recommended for best cracker texture. For a lighter option, use light cream cheese and reduced-fat cheddar while keeping the Ritz topping as written.