This Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is creamy, cozy and loaded with tender chicken wrapped in a cottage-cheese-based sauce for extra protein. The buttery Ritz cracker topping bakes to a golden brown crunch that brings classic comfort food energy to every bite.
It’s the kind of easy, weeknight casserole you can toss together on cold evenings or whenever you need a simple, family-friendly dinner. Bring it to potlucks, serve it after busy school days, or lean on it as a make-ahead main dish for any night of the week.
For more easy chicken casserole dishes, try our Buffalo Chicken Pasta and Southwest Chicken Casserole.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easy to Throw Together: A few simple ingredients and a quick stir are all you need for this hearty casserole.
- Perfect for Leftovers: Ideal for using rotisserie chicken or any cooked chicken you already have on hand.
- Great for Busy Weeknights: Bakes fast, reheats well and works for just about any night of the week.
Ingredients
This casserole uses simple ingredients you can grab from any grocery store, coming together to create a creamy sauce and crunchy topping.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup: Forms the creamy base that holds the casserole together.
- Cottage Cheese or Sour Cream: I prefer to use blended cottage cheese for extra protein, but sour cream adds a light tang.
- Green Onions: Bring a mild, fresh onion flavor that brightens the whole dish.
- Garlic Powder: Enhances depth and savory flavor without overpowering.
- Cooked Chicken: Rotisserie chicken, cooked boneless chicken breasts or thighs all works well.
- Ritz Crackers: Crushed crackers create that iconic buttery topping.
- Unsalted Butter: Helps the crackers brown beautifully and turn golden.
To make this recipe easier, you will need a 2.5-quart oval casserole dish, measuring cups and spoons and mixing bowls.
Variations
- Soup Swap: Mix it up and try mushroom or broccoli for a different flavor.
- Add Vegetables: Fold in mixed vegetables or fresh broccoli for more texture.
- Cheesy Version: Stir shredded cheddar into the chicken mixture for a cheesy take.
- Crunchy Topping Remix: Use buttered cornflakes or panko for a different texture.
How to Make Ritz Cracker Casserole
This casserole comes together quickly with simple mixing and a buttery cracker topping before heading into the oven.
Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a 2.5-quart casserole dish with non-stick spray.
In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese (or sour cream), cream of chicken soup, green onions, ground black pepper and garlic powder.
Stir in diced chicken and mix until fully coated. Transfer to prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
In another bowl, combine Ritz crackers with melted butter and dried parsley. Sprinkle over casserole.
Bake about 25 minutes until bubbling and topping is golden.
Hint: If your cottage cheese/sour cream is room temperature, it helps everything mix more smoothly.
Recipe Tips
- Extra Smooth: If your cottage cheese/sour cream is room temperature, it helps everything mix more smoothly.
- Don’t Skip the Butter: It’s what makes the cracker topping crisp instead of dry.
- Taste your Filling: Add extra seasoning before baking if you prefer a stronger onion or garlic flavor.
- Double It: This recipe scales easily! Make one for dinner and freeze another for later (just save the topping until you bake it).
Another weeknight win that has a spot in our regular rotation is our one pot Homemade Hamburger Helper.
More Main Dishes
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days, once cooled.
- Freezer: Freeze in a tightly wrapped baking dish or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: Preheat oven to 350F and bake until heated through. If the topping looks dry, add a small pat of butter before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
- Cozy Comfort Sides: Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots, Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Glazed Carrots.
- More Easy Casseroles: Philly Cheesesteak Casserole, Eggplant Casserole, Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas or Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups.
Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Recipe FAQs
Yes, it's a simpler option for this casserole, and is great if you are short on time.
Butter crackers work the best, but saltines or club crackers are a good substitution.
If it happens to brown too quickly in your oven, you can loosely tent the casserole with foil for part of the bake time.
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Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- 2.5-Quart Casserole Dish
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese or sour cream
- 1- 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2-3 stalks green onion finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 cups cooked chicken diced or shredded
- 5 ounce Ritz crackers crushed (use more next time)
- ¾ stick butter salted and melted
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a 2.5-quart casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese (or sour cream), cream of chicken soup, green onions, ground black pepper and garlic powder.
- Stir in diced chicken and mix until fully coated. Transfer to prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- In another bowl, combine Ritz crackers with melted butter and dried parsley. Sprinkle over casserole.
- Bake about 25 minutes until bubbling and topping is golden.
Notes
- Extra Smooth: If your cottage cheese/sour cream is room temperature, it helps everything mix more smoothly.
- Don’t Skip the Butter: It’s what makes the cracker topping crisp instead of dry.
- Taste your Filling: Add extra seasoning before baking if you prefer a stronger onion or garlic flavor.
- Double It: This recipe scales easily! Make one for dinner and freeze another for later (just save the topping until you bake it).
Nutrition
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Seija says
This was a great easy dinner. I added chopped up broccoli as well!
Eva Filer says
Thank you so much for the review. It is great to hear the modifications that people try! It is always nice to add extra veggies when you can too.