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Home » Method » Casseroles » Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole Recipe {video}

Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole Recipe {video}

August 23, 2022 by Faith 2 Comments

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This Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole recipe is packed with flavor; rotisserie chicken in a savory creamy sauce with a buttery crushed Ritz cracker topping! You can serve it with a vegetable on the side, and I also give instructions on how to add veggies and/or rice to the casserole if you like. And I have a ton of helpful tips to make this meal budget-friendly!

scoop of chicken casserole with cheese pull

Back-to-school is the time of year when I always start to think about casseroles again. Summer is more about grilling, salads, and quick and easy meals. But by late August/early September I’m ready for something a little more substantial. Casseroles are perfect!

If you’re on the lookout for an amazing chicken casserole that’s kid and adult-friendly, bookmark this one. It’s pure comfort food, and it whips up in just an hour! (Plus I share some time-saving tips to make it come together even quicker.)

Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole combines chicken with a creamy, cheesy savory sauce. The flavors aren’t anything crazy (and you probably have all the spices and seasonings on hand), but they come together beautifully for a really flavorful dish. And let’s not forget the deliciously crunchy buttery Ritz cracker topping!

overhead view of chicken casserole dinner spread

In This Article

  • How to Make This Recipe Economical
  • The Best Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole Recipe
  • Cooks Tips
  • Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole FAQs
  • More Casserole Recipes to Make
  • Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole

How to Make This Recipe Economical

Here are a few tips on how to make this dish budget-friendly without sacrificing flavor:

  • Make it stretch. You can add vegetables and rice to the casserole filling! Add a 12-ounce bag of frozen vegetables (such as green beans or broccoli) that’s thawed and drained. Also add 2 cups of cooked rice. Stir them in along with the other filling components and bake the casserole in a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish instead of a 9 by 9-inch dish. With these additions, this casserole will easily serve 8 to 10 people.
  • Take a little help from the store. I like to make my own Cream of Chicken Soup for this casserole because it bumps up the flavor, and it uses ingredients that I always have in my kitchen anyway. However, if you don’t keep these items on hand it may be cheaper to buy a can of Cream of Chicken Soup than to buy all the components to make it from scratch.
  • Skip what you can skip. The mozzarella cheese makes this recipe extra cheesy, but is completely optional. Also, the fresh parsley is just for a little color! Feel free to omit it or use dried parsley if you have some on hand.
  • Instead of rotisserie chicken. Rotisserie chicken is a huge time-saver, but it’s definitely not the most economical chicken option! Chicken leg quarters (thigh + drumstick) are usually very inexpensive. Roast them at 400F for 35 to 40 minutes, let them cool until they’re not too hot to touch, and then chop up the meat. Alternatively, check out canned chicken! You can sometimes find them buy one get one free, which makes them an economical option.

With any (or all) of these options, dinner will still taste like a million bucks!

cheesy chicken casserole with green beans on plate

The Best Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole Recipe

million dollar chicken casserole ingredients

Ingredients

Topping:

  • Ritz crackers
  • Butter
  • Scallion
  • Seasoned salt

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup:

  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Chicken broth
  • Dried minced onion
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Black pepper
  • Cream cheese

Filling:

  • Cooked chopped chicken (rotisserie chicken works well)
  • Shredded mozzarella (optional)
  • Cottage cheese
  • Sour cream
  • Scallion

Garnish:

  • Fresh parsley

Step-by-Step Instructions

how to make million dollar chicken casserole
  1. For the topping, stir together all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. For the homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Whisk in the milk, chicken broth, dried minced onions, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper, and bring to a boil. Let it boil until thickened, stirring constantly. Whisk in the cream cheese and remove from the heat.
  3. Add the chicken, mozzarella, cottage cheese, sour cream, scallion, and sauce to a large bowl and mix to combine.
  4. Pour the filling into a 9 by 9-inch baking dish (or equivalent) sprayed with olive oil spray, and spread it out. Sprinkle the Ritz mixture evenly on top of the filling. Bake uncovered until the casserole is golden on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes at 375F.

Storage

This casserole keeps well for up to 4 days stored covered in the fridge. You can reheat it in a 350F oven covered with foil until warm.

million dollar ritz chicken casserole dinner with green beans

Cooks Tips

  • If you’re running short on time, you can use store-bought Cream of Chicken Soup instead of making your own! Use 1 (10.5 ounce) can of soup + 4 ounces cream cheese.
  • Rotisserie chicken works well for this recipe, and is a big time-saver. However, you can also roast your own chicken for this recipe. Or use canned chicken!
  • I like to serve this casserole with a vegetable on the side. However, if you want to make this a one-dish meal you can stir in 3 cups of steamed broccoli or 1 (12 ounce) package of frozen vegetables (thawed and drained) along with the other filling components. Use a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish instead of a 9 by 9-inch dish.
million dollar ritz chicken casserole graphic

Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole FAQs

What is Ritz Chicken?

Ritz Chicken is also called Ritz Cracker Chicken, Ritzy Chicken, and Butter Chicken!

It is similar to regular breaded chicken, but is coated in a mixture of crushed Ritz crackers instead of breadcrumbs.

This recipe sort of marries Ritz Chicken and Million Dollar Chicken Casserole.

What is Million Dollar Chicken Casserole?

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a classic casserole with chicken in a creamy sauce consisting of cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, sour cream, and spices. It’s baked in a casserole dish topped with a crushed Ritz cracker topping.

Some recipes for this casserole also include bacon, so feel free to add a couple slices of cooked, crumbled bacon if you like.

For this recipe, we make a quick homemade Cream of Chicken Soup to really bump up the flavor.

using wooden spoon to scoop casserole

Can I Add Rice to Million Dollar Chicken Casserole?

Yes! Adding rice is an economical way to stretch this meal.

To add rice to this creamy chicken casserole, stir 2 cups of cooked rice in with the other filling components. Use a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish instead of a 9 by 9-inch dish.

What Goes Well with Chicken Casserole?

I like to pair this with a simply-prepared green vegetable, such as steamed green beans, broccoli, or asparagus. Or mixed salad greens with cherry tomatoes and vinaigrette is perfect (try my favorite salad dressing recipe)!

top view of million dollar chicken casserole with wooden spoon to serve

More Casserole Recipes to Make

  • Quick Lasagna Casserole (aka Lazy Lasagna)
  • Vegetable Beef Guinness Casserole
  • Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
easy million dollar ritz chicken casserole recipe

Let’s Connect

I love hearing from you!
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment.
You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.
To stay up-to-date, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
xoxo, Faith

million dollar chicken casserole recipe featured image

Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole

By: Faith Gorsky
This Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole recipe is packed with flavor; rotisserie chicken in a savory creamy sauce with a buttery crushed Ritz cracker topping! You can serve it with a vegetable on the side, and I also give instructions on how to add veggies and/or rice to the casserole if you like. And I have a ton of helpful tips to make this meal budget-friendly!
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 549 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Topping:

  • 28 Ritz crackers coarsely crushed
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1/4 cup sliced scallion
  • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 ounces cream cheese at room temperature

Filling:

  • 3 cups cooked chopped chicken rotisserie chicken works well
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella optional, for super cheesiness
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup sliced scallion

Garnish:

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Instructions
 

For the Topping:

  • Stir together all ingredients in a bowl.

For the Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup:

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly.
  • Whisk in the milk, chicken broth, dried minced onions, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper, and bring to a boil. Let it boil until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Whisk in the cream cheese until fully incorporated. Remove from the heat.

To Assemble:

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Spray the inside of a 9 by 9-inch baking dish (or another oven-safe dish with an equivalent capacity) with olive oil cooking spray.
  • Add the chicken, mozzarella, cottage cheese, sour cream, scallion, and sauce to a large bowl and mix to combine.

To Bake:

  • Pour the filling into the prepared baking dish and spread it out.
  • Sprinkle the Ritz mixture evenly on top of the filling.
  • Bake uncovered until the casserole is golden on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
  • Serve warm garnished with minced parsley.

Video

Faith’s Tips

  • Use Store-Bought Cream of Chicken Soup to Save Time: If you’re running short on time, you can use store-bought Cream of Chicken Soup instead of making your own! Use 1 (10.5 ounce) can of soup + 4 ounces cream cheese.
  • Rotisserie Chicken Alternatives: For a more economical option, you can roast chicken leg quarters at 400F for 35 to 40 minutes, let them cool until they’re not too hot to touch, and then chop up the meat. Alternatively, check out canned chicken! You can sometimes find them buy one get one free, which makes them a budget-friendly option. Or if you already have cooked chicken on hand, feel free to use that instead.
  • To Add a Vegetable to This Casserole: I like to serve this casserole with a vegetable on the side. However, if you want to make this a one-dish meal you can stir in 3 cups of steamed broccoli or 1 (12 ounce) package of frozen vegetables (thawed and drained) along with the other filling components. Use a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish instead of a 9 by 9-inch dish.
  • To Add Rice to This Casserole: Stir 2 cups of cooked rice in with the other filling components. Use a 9 by 13-inch casserole dish instead of a 9 by 9-inch dish.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Million Dollar Ritz Chicken Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 549 Calories from Fat 342
% Daily Value*
Fat 38g58%
Saturated Fat 21g131%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 10g
Cholesterol 159mg53%
Sodium 1523mg66%
Potassium 459mg13%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 1331IU27%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 262mg26%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keyword Million Dollar Chicken, Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, Ritz Chicken, Ritz Chicken Casserole
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
million dollar chicken casserole pin

Filed Under: Casseroles, Chicken, Meal Prep Tagged: Million Dollar Chicken, Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, Ritz Chicken, Ritz Chicken Casserole

Comments

  1. Cheryl Gotschall says

    October 12, 2022 at 9:51 am

    5 stars
    Yummy. I froze half for another quick meal.

    Reply
  2. Robin says

    August 23, 2022 at 6:20 pm

    5 stars
    Looks so scrumptious and easy! Will have to make this one night.

    Reply

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Hello and welcome to An Edible Mosaic! This is my recipe collection of international favorites and updated American classics with an emphasis on seasonal dishes. Here you’ll find a focus on real foods that sustain body and mind, bring people together, and make a house a home.

 

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I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to email me with questions or comments.

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affiliate disclosure

An Edible Mosaic is monetized in part though affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an affiliate link and/or purchase an item after clicking on an affiliate link, I may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use. To learn more, please read my Privacy Policy.

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