Chicken on the Ritz Casserole

4.94 from 59 votes
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Fewer than ten simple ingredients come together in a velvety, creamy sauce that elevates this DELICIOUS ‘Chicken on The Ritz’ Casserole, spot on for busy nights. If you have a tender chicken rotisserie on hand, you’re halfway done with this easy recipe!

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a white casserole dish with creamy chicken and buttery Ritz cracker topping

Rotisserie chicken on hand means multiple meals! See my methods for Homemade Chicken and Dumplings, Ultra Satisfying Chicken Noodle Soup, and this gorgeous One Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup!

For the ultimate creamy chicken casserole recipe the whole family will love, reach for rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, and a sleeve of buttery Ritz crackers. Fewer than ten simple ingredients come together as if destined for one another in the velvety, creamy sauce that bolsters this hands down DELICIOUS casserole, spot on for busy weeknights.

This easy chicken casserole recipe is certainly customizable if you wanted to be creative and add to it. Broccoli florets or fresh green beans, cooked pasta or egg noodles, or even rice for a Ritz chicken casserole with rice. Really, the possibilities to this becoming a family favorite are limited only by your imagination.

Select a pretty 2 1/2-quart (9 by 9-inch) or 3-quart (12 by 9-inch) casserole dish in which to assemble and bake. Aside from the baking dish, all that is additionally required is the use of your food processor or a large mixing bowl and a hand mixer. Easy cleanup!

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Ingredients

  • rotisserie chicken, light or dark meat or a mixture of both
  • cottage cheese
  • cream cheese
  • sour cream
  • canned cream of chicken soup or canned cream of mushroom soup (may be lower sodium)
  • onion powder
  • garlic powder
  • sweet yellow curry powder
  • unsalted butter
  • Ritz crackers

optional add-ins

  • long grain rice
  • pasta noodles
  • cooked crumbled bacon
  • broccoli florets
  • diced water chestnuts
  • shredded cheddar cheese
  • french-fried onions
  • chopped green onions
  • minced fresh parsley or thyme leaves
a chicken casserole in a white dish on a wood cutting board with a salad and a glass of wine

How to Make This Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe

Before you get started, preheat your oven to 350°F. Butter or spray lightly with cooking spray the casserole dish you will use. Set aside.

Prepare Some Chicken

Begin by readying the main ingredient, a few cups chicken. This can be leftover chicken from a previous night’s meal, drained canned chicken, meat from a large rotisserie chicken, or breasts and thighs you will cook specifically for use in chicken casserole recipes like this one.

You will want the chicken not only shredded, but also in bite-sized pieces. Personally, I like to use a mix of both light and dark meat in this casserole, but feel like you can use either exclusively.

Combine the Supporting Ingredients

In the barrel of a food processor or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, whip the cottage cheese to a smooth consistency, about 1 minute. It’s okay if a few curds remain, but I do this because I find many folks do not enjoy the texture of cottage cheese, hence whipping it.

To the cottage cheese, add in room temperature cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, onion and garlic powder, and a scant amount of curry powder. Pulse or beat until well combined, 30 to 45 seconds.

Add the prepared cooked chicken to the soup mixture. If you used a food processor, it may be more helpful to transfer the soup mixture to a large bowl to do this. Stir well to combine everything.

Pro Tip: to incorporate great options such as broccoli florets or green beans (for the picky eater at your dinner table!), pasta, or rice into the chicken mixture, do so by first par-cooking or par-boiling.

  • For 1/2-cup broccoli or fresh trimmed green beans, boiling or steaming for 1 to 2 minutes is sufficient.
  • In terms of grains of rice (1/2-cup), or tender noodles (1-cup), cook according to package directions but LESS 2 minutes. Added to the mixture and allowed to complete their cooking cycles in the casserole will ensure nothing comes out mushy.
  • Drained and diced water chestnuts (a small can) and/or cooked crumbled bacon (3 strips) should be added as they are.

Assemble the Casserole

Melt a good amount of unsalted butter and allow it to cool. I specify unsalted butter because the canned soup, even if using lower sodium, and the crackers will have enough salt to sufficiently flavor the finished dish.

Crush a full sleeve of Ritz or other buttery crackers with a rolling pin or flat side of a meat mallet to where you’ve still got some large pieces. Stir the cracker crumbs together with the melted butter to coat.

Scrape the chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish and scatter the buttery Ritz cracker topping over the top of the chicken. Place into the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes or until bubbling and golden.

Pro Tip: If you plan to add a layer of shredded cheddar cheese, do so before you top with the buttered cracker mixture, about 1/3 to 1/2-cup.

If french-fried onions appeal to you, mix 1/4 to 1/2-cup right into the buttered cracker mixture before topping the casserole.

Modifying the Norm to Make It Not Entirely Average

  • Use leftover Thanksgiving or Christmas roasted turkey in place of the chicken as an excellent way of using up those holiday leftovers!
  • Add cooked, diced ham and a jar of drained and chopped olives with pimentos to this dish for a whole other flavor level altogether.
  • Don’t just melt butter, but brown butter to give the top of the casserole crispy topping a nutty flavor and aroma.
featured image for 'Chicken on The Ritz' Casserole
4.94 from 59 votes

Chicken on the Ritz Casserole

Fewer than ten simple ingredients come together in a velvety, creamy sauce that elevates this DELICIOUS ritz chicken casserole, spot on for busy nights.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Equipment

  • 2 1/2-quart (9 by 9-inch) or 3-quart (12 by 9-inch) casserole dish
  • food processor or mixing bowl

Ingredients 

  • 4 cups chicken breast meat or thigh meat or both, cooked and shredded or chopped into bite sized pieces
  • 1 cup cottage cheese, whipped; see process notes in recipe card below
  • 4 ounces (1/2 block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 (10.75 ounce can) condensed cream of chicken soup, may use condensed cream of mushroom soup in equal measure
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sweet yellow curry powder
  • optional Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 sleeve (32 crackers) Ritz crackers, half crushed into fine crumbs, half into larger bits and pieces

optional casserole add-ins

  • ½ cup long grain rice, cooked LESS 2 minutes; slightly cooled and fluffed so it does not clump
  • 1 cup pasta noodles such as elbows or egg noodles, cooked LESS 2 minutes
  • 3 strips bacon, cooked, crumbled
  • ½ cup broccoli florets, par-boiled or steamed
  • 1 small can water chestnuts, diced

optional Ritz topping add-ins

  • ½ to ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded from a large block
  • ¼ to ½ cup french fried onions

optional for garnish

  • 2 tablespoons green onions, chopped; green and light green parts only
  • 2 teaspoons parsley or thyme, fresh; minced

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or spray lightly with cooking spray the casserole dish you will use. Set aside. In a bowl, add the crushed Ritz cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix well to coat the crackers. Set aside.
  • In the barrel of a food processor or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, whip the cottage cheese to a smooth consistency, about 1 minute. NOTE: It's okay if a few curds remain, OR if you prefer to skip this step altogether; I do this because I find many dislike the texture of cottage cheese, hence whipping it to smooth.
  • To the cottage cheese add the cream cheese, sour cream, cream soup, onion and garlic powder, and curry powder. Pulse or beat until well combined, 30 to 45 seconds. Add the prepared cooked chicken to the soup mixture. If you used a food processor, it may be more helpful to transfer the soup mixture to a large bowl to do this. NOTE: If using any casserole add-ins, incorporate them now. Stir well to combine everything.
  • Scrape the chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish and scatter the buttery Ritz cracker topping over the top of the chicken. NOTE: If using any Ritz topping add-ins, incorporate them now. For a layer of shredded cheese, add it to the top of the chicken BEFORE adding the Ritz topping. Place into the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes or until bubbling and golden.
  • Allow the casserole to stand 10 minutes before serving as the contents will be VERY HOT. Garnish with minced fresh parsley, thyme leaves, or chopped green onion if desired. Offer parmesan cheese tableside if desired.

Notes

Please Note that table salt and iodized salt are NOT substitutions for Kosher salt. Do not use table salt or iodized salt in any of the recipes you find on Not Entirely Average UNLESS specified otherwise.
To Make Ahead Up to 3 Days assemble casserole without adding buttery cracker topping. Cover with plastic film or aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove from refrigeration 30 minutes before baking and allow to come to room temperature. Butter cracker crumbs and add to the top. Bake as indicated in the recipe card above. Store Leftover Chicken Casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To Reheat the Casserole microwave on low for 1 minute, stir, then microwave 1 minute more.
To Freeze this Casserole Up to 3 Months, assemble and pour into a freezer-safe dish prior to baking. Disposable pans work well for this. Bake as indicated in the recipe card and cool completely. Once cooled, wrap in plastic wrap, and then in foil and place in the freezer.  To Thaw the Casserole place in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigeration 30 minutes before reheating in a low oven, covered, for about 25 minutes or may microwave individual portions. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 364kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 308mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 698IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Southern
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 364
Keyword: chicken casserole
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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

4.94 from 59 votes (53 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. I used leftover holiday turkey in this recipe and it was so delicious. The sauce is so creamy and the Ritz crackers on top add the perfect crunch. Thinking of adding some broccoli next time for some extra greens.5 stars

    1. Mandy, like you, so many others are commenting that they have used leftover holiday turkey. I have quite a lot frozen/vacuum-sealed from Christmas yet, so I think I’m going to do this, too! Thanks, Mandy ๐Ÿ™‚ Jenny

  2. OMG, this was so delicious and comforting! I had the best dinner after a long time thanks to this casserole! I added some bacon and cheddar and it was so amazing!5 stars

    1. Sophie, this is so kind of you to remark “best dinner you’ve had in a long time!” I got the same from my dad the first time I made this for him. I think it is because it’s the very definition of comfort food, you know? x – Jenny

  3. Decided to try this and used my leftover turkey instead of chicken, and I can’t believe how incredibly tasty it was! Served it with cream of mushroom soup and it was very creamy and delicious. Great way to revamp turkey or chicken leftovers!5 stars

    1. Hazel, turkey is INCREDIBLE as a sub for chicken. I’m going to let you in on a secret – smoked turkey is simply incred in this dis, too ๐Ÿ™‚ Make it and serve as an appetizer instead and pile high onto Captain’s Wafer crackers and OMG! Jenny

  4. I just can’t get enough of this chicken casserole recipe! It’s wonderful and delicious and is now a new fam fave! Added broccoli florets and cheddar cheese for that extra flavor and it came out perfect!5 stars

    1. Meredith, I always forget to tell moms to add the veggies into this one because KIDS WILL EAT THIS! Thanks for reminding me with the broccoli! Jenny

  5. Tried this recipe for the first time, and it’s definitely a keeper! I was looking for a new comfort food, and this ticks all the boxes – yummy and super easy. The extra cheese layer tip was spot-on. Thanks!5 stars

  6. I was so happy this recipe showed up in my mail this morning because I wanted to do something different with chicken. Since I had all the ingredients, I put it together, have already baked it and, with f course, tasted! Yum! Perfect inclusion to recipe box!5 stars

    1. Renee! It is fabulous that it worked like this for you – I would have had to hit the grocery! I love this casserole with a simple green salad and a chocolate dessert ๐Ÿ™‚ x – Jenny