Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Recipe
A comforting and creamy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole featuring tender shredded chicken, a savory blend of cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, and aromatic spices, topped with cheddar cheese and a buttery Ritz cracker crumb crust, baked to golden perfection for a deliciously satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Base Mixture
- Cooking spray, for greasing
- 1 (10.75-oz.) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 3/4 cup (4%) cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup sliced chives
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Topping
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 31 Ritz crackers (about 1 1/3 cups), crushed
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease an 11″ x 8″ baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the Sauce Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, sliced chives, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Main Ingredients: Fold the cooked shredded chicken and thawed peas into the sauce mixture. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste and mix gently. Transfer this mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the surface.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the chicken mixture layer.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with melted unsalted butter until the crumbs are well coated and hold together slightly when pressed.
- Top the Casserole: Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the cheddar cheese layer to form a crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is browned on top and bubbling around the edges.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier version, increase the cayenne pepper slightly or add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- This casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time if baking cold.
- Use rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted chicken to save time.
- Substitute frozen peas with other vegetables like corn or green beans for variety.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free crackers instead of Ritz crackers.
Keywords: Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole, chicken casserole, creamy chicken bake, cheesy chicken casserole, comfort food, easy chicken dinner
