Description
This Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a creamy, comforting baked dish featuring tender shredded chicken, a savory blend of cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, and sour cream, topped with cheddar cheese and a crunchy Ritz cracker crust. Enhanced with a touch of garlic, chives, and cayenne for subtle heat, this easy-to-make casserole is perfect for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 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 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 4 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Topping
- 31 Ritz crackers (about 1 1/3 cups), crushed (from 1 sleeve)
- 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
Optional Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease an 11″ x 8″ baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Make the creamy mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together condensed cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, sliced chives, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until smooth and well combined. Fold in the cooked shredded chicken and thawed peas. Season with freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the mixture.
- Prepare the topping: In a separate medium bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with melted unsalted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated. Sprinkle this buttery cracker topping evenly over the cheddar cheese layer.
- Bake the casserole: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling around the edges.
- Rest and serve: 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
- You can substitute cooked rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken to save time.
- If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce or omit the cayenne pepper.
- The crushed Ritz crackers add a buttery, crunchy texture; for a gluten-free alternative, use gluten-free crackers.
- Allowing the casserole to rest before serving helps it hold together better when scooping.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
