Sometimes, after a long day at work, you need to feel like a million bucks. Perhaps you make an elaborate cocktail or draw yourself a bath. Maybe you crave comfort food.

If this sounds like you, add this Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole to this week’s meal plan. It’s rich, creamy, and loaded with chicken and vegetables. The crunch factor meets a soothing cheesy texture. This homemade chicken casserole should be served warm, and it’s an excellent weeknight remedy. Ritz crackers replace breadcrumbs to give an extra crunch to this dish.

Then, there are the leftovers. The only thing better than a comforting weeknight dinner is one that stretches out over several nights, saving you the hassle of playing chef multiple times a week. What’s more, you can serve this dish with creative sides and in different presentations if you want to switch things up. Read on to learn how to make one of our favorite easy chicken casserole recipes and have an utterly delicious week.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Total time: 40 minutes

Servings: 10

Ingredients:

• 4 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken (or about five to six chicken breasts)

• 4 ounces room temperature cream cheese

• 1 cup cottage cheese

• ½ cup sour cream

• 1 can cream of chicken soup

• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

• ¼ teaspoon onion powder

• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

• Frozen broccoli, drained canned green beans, or drained canned vegetable mix (optional)

Chef’s tip: If you don’t have time to boil or otherwise cook chicken, consider picking up a rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time. Shredded chicken works well.

Preparation instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350ºF. While you’re waiting, grease a 9-by-13 inch casserole dish. (You can do this by putting a bit of butter or oil on a paper towel and spreading it around the dish. Alternatively, you can use cooking spray.)

2. In a large bowl, combine the chopped chicken, softened cream cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, and cream of chicken soup.

3. (Optional) If you plan to make a recipe for chicken casserole with vegetables, you can mix those veggies in now. If using a canned variety, be sure to drain the vegetables well before folding them into the chicken and cheese mixture. If using frozen veggies, thaw them and press out any excess liquid before combining them with the other ingredients.

4. Spread the cheese and chicken mixture into the baking dish.

5. Mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, and then sprinkle a layer of this mixture over the contents of the baking dish.

6. Put the casserole in the oven and bake (uncovered) until bubbly and crispy, roughly 30-40 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Plain Chicken.

You can modify this recipe by adding more vegetables, like tomatoes or bell peppers, or extra cheese — a parmesan or cheddar cheese pairs well.

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Nutritional values per serving

• Calories: 658

• Fat: 34.7 grams

• Saturated Fat: 13.5 grams

• Cholesterol: 86 milligrams

• Sodium: 1117 milligrams

• Carbohydrate: 53.9 grams

• Fiber: 2 grams

• Sugars: 6.8 grams‍

• Protein: 29.4 grams

This nutrition information is an estimate based on the recipe above without the optional vegetables.

What to serve with chicken casserole

Greens: Whether steamed or crispy fresh, green vegetables are the perfect side dish for chicken casserole. They help offset the creamy flavor and add nutrients to your meal. Mix up a simple lettuce and tomato salad in Italian dressing or steam green beans or frozen broccoli as a healthful side. Sauteed Brussels sprouts and heirloom carrots (we know, not exactly green) are also excellent pairings.

Biscuits: Lean into the buttery hedonism of this casserole by pairing it with more butter. Serve this dish with a rich, flaky biscuit. You can even make miniature sandwiches or toasts by smearing the biscuits with a hearty layer of the casserole.

Wild rice: This variety of rice has a nice bite to it, which means that it combines excellently with the super soft texture of the casserole. You can even serve the casserole atop the rice, mixing in the grains as you eat for a more well-rounded texture.

Variations: leftover chicken casserole recipes

Add pasta: Adding pasta to a dish is usually a good idea, no matter the recipe. You can mix chicken casserole as an extra-rich, Alfredo-style sauce into cooked noodles like elbows, bowties, and linguini. This is the perfect solution if you need to carb-load for a long workout in the morning.

Make enchiladas: Stuffing leftovers into soft tortillas is another solution that rarely fails. Learn how to make classic enchiladas here, but instead of filling the tortillas with pulled chicken as this recipe recommends, use leftover chicken casserole.

‍Flatbreads: Pick up some ready-made pizza dough or pre-cooked flat breads and top with chicken casserole before baking. You can even put a layer of sauce down before topping with dollops of the casserole. Remember that you probably won’t need to add more cheese, as you make most chicken casserole recipes with cream cheese, ricotta, and even cheddar. Our only recommendation would be to avoid the Ritz cracker topping as you scoop out the casserole out for your flatbread, as the crackers may work against the Italian flavor profile.

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Storage FAQs

How long will a chicken casserole last in the fridge?

After letting the casserole cool down fully, store in an airtight container. This dish will last for up to four days in the refrigerator, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your leftovers in different ways.

Can you freeze chicken casserole?

Yes. You can freeze chicken casserole for several months in an airtight container. To reheat, defrost in the microwave or transfer to the refrigerator the night before serving so that the temperature can come up slowly before you finish reheating in the microwave. You can also reheat defrosted leftovers in the oven.

Time to stock up on cheese so that you can make the creamy chicken casserole of your dreams. Order everything you need from Gopuff and start chopping up some chicken while you wait, so you just need to mix and bake.