Description
Paula Dean’s amazing chicken casserole brings Southern comfort to dinner tables with irresistible cheesy goodness. Hearty layers of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and crispy crackers promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 cups (720 ml) cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken works great)
Dairy:
- 2 cups (240 g) shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) melted butter
Soup and Seasoning:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces/298 grams) cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Topping:
- 1/2 cup (60 g) crushed Ritz crackers (or your preferred cracker)
Garnish:
- 1/4 cup (15 g) chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray for smooth release.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, blend shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper into a creamy, well-integrated mixture.
- Fold in 1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese until evenly distributed throughout the chicken base.
- Gently transfer the seasoned chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it uniformly to create an even layer.
- Crush Ritz crackers and combine with melted butter to create a crispy topping mixture.
- Distribute the buttery cracker crumbs across the casserole’s surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese over the cracker layer for an additional cheesy dimension.
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the edges bubble with enthusiasm.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling flavors to settle and texture to stabilize.
- Optional: Garnish with freshly chopped green onions for a vibrant, crisp finishing touch before serving.
Notes
- Swap regular Ritz crackers with gluten-free alternatives to create a celiac-friendly version of this comforting dish.
- Reduce sodium content by using low-sodium cream of chicken soup and cutting back on added salt.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and mayonnaise for a lighter, protein-packed twist that maintains creamy texture.
- Enhance nutritional value by adding roasted vegetables like broccoli or spinach directly into the chicken mixture for extra nutrients and color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern (American)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 469
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 822 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 88 mg