Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a quick and easy recipe that’s a family favorite. This 30 minute meal is full of chicken in a creamy sauce and is topped with a wonderful, buttery, cracker topping.
Casseroles are an easy way to make my very busy life just a little easier. Let me share two more of my favorite casseroles. My easy Baked Ravioli Lasagna and my Cheesy Hamburger and Potato Casserole are both quick and delicious.
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Why this Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Recipe is a Keeper
This chicken and Ritz cracker casserole is quick, easy, and seriously tasty. Making it perfect for your go-to recipe stash.
- Comfort Food Casserole: It’s a classic, creamy, and satisfying dish. The rich sour cream, savory filling combined with the buttery, crunchy topping is pure nostalgia.
- Quick & Easy: Using pre-cooked chicken and a canned soup base makes this recipe incredibly fast to prepare. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
- Budget-Friendly: The ingredients are simple, affordable, and easy to find, making it a great option for feeding a family without breaking the bank.
- Highly Adaptable: The base recipe is a blank canvas, allowing for easy customization with various vegetables, cheeses, and different seasonings to suit your taste.
What Kind of Cooked Chicken Should I Use?
You can either use leftover cooked chicken or one rotisserie chicken if you don’t have any leftover.
Pro Tip
Bake on the middle rack. Baking the casserole on the middle rack allows for more even cooking and helps the crust to brown nicely.
Ingredient Notes to Make Chicken Casserole
All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but some of the ingredients may be around the kitchen already.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Crushed Crackers: You will need a whole sleeve of buttery Ritz cracker crumbs.
- Chicken: Feel free to use canned chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken or cooked and shredded skinless chicken breasts.
- Cream Soup: Use regular cream of chicken soup for the creamy base along with the tangy sour cream, it adds flavor. You can also use cream of chicken soup that is low fat.
Variations and Substitutions to Make Ritz Chicken
Ritz cracker recipes are super customizable. Take this one to the next level by adding veggies, different protein or a different crunchy topping.
- Instead of Chicken: Substitute the diced chicken with cooked, shredded turkey, canned tuna, or diced cooked ham.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in a cup of frozen mixed vegetables, frozen peas, corn, chopped broccoli florets or green onions for extra color and nutrition.
- Alternate Creamy Base: Use a different condensed soup, such as cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli. For a more homemade taste, you can substitute the soup and sour cream with a simple bechamel sauce and some cream cheese or cottage cheese.
- Different Topping: Instead of a sleeve of Ritz crackers, use crushed saltine crackers, buttered breadcrumbs, or crushed cornflakes for a different texture. You can also add grated cheddar or Parmesan cheese to the cracker mixture. Poppy seeds are even a great topper.
- Extra Cheese: Stir a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, Swiss, or a Mexican blend cheese into the chicken mixture before baking.
How to Make Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers
This recipe comes together in just 4 easy to follow steps. This delicious Ritz shredded chicken casserole is so easy and delicious, I come back to it again and again.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Preheat Oven and Prep Pan: Preheat the oven and spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Make Chicken Filling: In a large bowl, combine the the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, All Purpose Seasoning, minced shallot and minced garlic. Transfer mixture to the prepared dish.
- Make the Topping: In another bowl, combine the melted butter and the crushed Ritz crackers. Spread the crunchy Ritz cracker topping evenly on top of the casserole.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake until the crackers are golden and the casserole is heated through.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Creamy Chicken Casserole
When I prepare ahead of time, it can help save me time and kitchen space when it comes to making everything for dinner.
- Assemble the Casserole: You can prepare the chicken mixture, transfer it to the baking dish, and cover it tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Keep the cracker and butter topping in a separate container and add it right before baking to prevent it from getting soggy.
- Crush the Crackers: Crush the Ritz crackers ahead of time and store them in an airtight container or bag so that it’s easy to mix up the topping.
- Ingredient Prep: Pre-shred your chicken and crush the crackers the day before to make assembly even faster on the day of cooking.
Alternate Cooking for the Shredded Chicken with Cracker Topping
Make this recipe another way by using your stovetop or crock pot if your oven is occupied with something else.
- Slow Cooker: Combine all the casserole ingredients (except for the cracker topping) in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-3 hours or on high for 1-1.5 hours, until the mixture is hot and bubbly. About 15 minutes before serving, sprinkle the cracker topping on top, cover, and let it soften slightly. The topping will not get crispy, but it will still be delicious.
- Stovetop: For a super-fast version, combine the filling ingredients in a large pot on the stove. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture is hot and bubbly. Serve immediately and top with the cracker mixture on individual servings. You can even bake in an air fryer.
Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Cooked Chicken Recipe
- Store: Store leftover cooked chicken casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: For best results, reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through (about 15-20 minutes). The crackers may not be as crispy. You can also microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes.
- Use Leftovers: This is a fantastic dish for leftovers. You can serve it over egg noodles or jasmine rice, or use it as a filling for baked puff pastry cups or a pot pie.
Questions About This Casserole with Ritz Cracker Recipe
To make this recipe gluten free, be sure to use gluten free cream of chicken soup and crackers. To make it dairy free, use a plant based butter and sour cream.
You can shred chicken with two forks, or with a hand mixer. You can also use cubed chicken.
Expert Tips to Love this Recipe for Ritz Chicken Casserole
- Season to Taste: Feel free to add more salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.
- For a Crispier Topping: For an extra crispy topping, you can toast the cracker mixture separately on a baking sheet for 5-7 minutes before topping the casserole. This ensures they don’t get soggy from the moisture in the casserole.
- Don’t Skimp on the Butter: The melted butter is what makes the Ritz cracker topping so golden and delicious. Be sure to mix the crackers and butter thoroughly.
- Balance the Richness: This casserole is very rich. To make it a complete meal, serve it with a fresh side salad or some steamed green beans to cut through the creaminess.
- Sauté Your Aromatics: For a deeper flavor, you can sauté the minced shallot and garlic in a bit of butter before adding them to the chicken mixture. This mellows their raw bite and enhances their flavor.
- Serve With: Serve this recipe with Homemade Garlic Bread, Carrot and Cucumber Salad or Cheesy Party Potatoes.
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Creamy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
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Ingredients
- 4 cups Chicken, (fully cooked and shredded)
- 10.5 ounces Cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup Sour cream
- 1 Shallot, finely minced
- 1 clove Garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon All Purpose Seasoning
- 32 Ritz crackers, crushed
- 6 Tablespoons Butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉. Prepare a 9×9 baking dish with non stick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shallot, garlic and All Purpose Seasoning. Stir until combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, combine the crushed crackers and melted butter.
- Evenly spread the cracker mixture on top of the casserole.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes or until the crackers are golden and the casserole is heated through.
Christina’s Notes
- Season: Taste the chicken mixture before adding it to the baking dish, and add more seasonings as needed.
- Crispier Topping: Toast the cracker mix separately before adding it on top of the casserole.
- Sauté Your Aromatics: Sauté the minced shallot and garlic in a bit of butter before adding them to the chicken mixture to really bring out their flavors.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.