Cheesy Chicken Casserole Recipe – Indulge in the ultimate comfort food! This mouthwatering dish combines tender chicken, noodles, chicken soup, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, cheddar, mozzarella, and a buttery cracker topping for a truly satisfying experience. Whether you’re looking for a cozy family dinner or a crowd-pleasing potluck dish, this casserole has got you covered.
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Pin This RecipeChicken and Pasta Casserole
This Cheesy Chicken Casserole is comfort food at its best! Loaded with tender chicken, pasta creamy cheese sauce, and topped with a buttery cracker topping, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re hosting a family gathering or looking for a cozy weeknight dinner, this cheesy delight will have everyone coming back for seconds. Serve it alongside buttery garlic bread, green beans, or a refreshing green salad for a complete and satisfying meal. Get ready to savor every gooey, cheesy bite!
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Casserole
This casserole is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. Bring a large pot of water to boil over medium-high heat. Add egg noodles and cook according to package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion powder, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper. Add cooked chopped chicken, cooked pasta, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese, and stir well.
Spread the chicken mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. In a small bowl, combine melted butter, crushed Ritz crackers, and poppy seeds. Sprinkle cracker crumbs over the top of the casserole. Bake in a preheated oven until bubbly.
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- I use rotisserie chicken in this recipe. You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand. Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, or canned chicken all work great.
- You can use any cream of condensed soup in this recipe. Cream of Chicken Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Cream of Celery all work great.
- I recommend using unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
- Variations/Additions:
- broccoli
- spinach
- onion
- peppers
- mushrooms
- green peas
- Can I make Chicken Casserole in advance? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge until ready to bake.
- If using a glass baking dish, let the dish sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.
- You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking cold straight from the fridge.
- Can I freeze Cheesy Chicken Casserole? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil—place in the freezer and store for up to 3 months.
- When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
What to Seve with Chicken Noodle Casserole
When it comes to serving up this delicious chicken noodle casserole, I’ve got a few ideas that’ll take your meal to the next level. First off, you can never go wrong with green beans and warm buttery rolls. Another option is a crisp and refreshing green salad with homemade dressing. It will provide a nice contrast to the richness of the casserole. No matter what you serve this with, it is sure to earn a spot in your dinner rotation!
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Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken
- 1 (16-oz) bag wide egg noodles
- 3 cups sour cream
- 2 (10.5-oz) cans unsalted cream of chicken soup
- 8- oz shredded Cheddar cheese
- 8- oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ tsp onion powder or to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder or to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 sleeve Club crackers crushed
- ¼ cup butter melted
- 2 Tbsp poppy seed
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add egg noodles and cook according to the package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Remove the meat from the chicken, discard skin, and chop meat.
- In a large bowl, mix together chicken, cooked noodles, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared dish.
- In a small bowl, mix together cracker crumbs, melted butter, and poppy seeds; sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Notes:
- You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand. Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins, or canned chicken all work great.
- You can use any cream of condensed soup in this recipe. Cream of Chicken Soup, Cream of Mushroom Soup, or Cream of Celery all work great.
- I recommend using unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup: https://www.plainchicken.com/homemade-cream-of-chicken-soup/
- Variations/Additions:
- broccoli
- spinach
- onion
- peppers
- mushrooms
- green peas
- Can I make Chicken Casserole in advance? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the pan with plastic wrap. Place in the fridge until ready to bake.
- If using a glass baking dish, let the dish sit out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.
- You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking cold straight from the fridge.
- Can I freeze Cheesy Chicken Casserole? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil—place in the freezer and store for up to 3 months.
- When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Steph
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This recipe sounds delicious!! Could you tell me how much chicken to use if I were using canned chicken?
Delicious casserole. I have your chicken spaghetti casserole in the oven now. Love meow Monday.
Hope you enjoy the spaghetti!
Do you think this recipe would be ok if I substituted pulled pork shoulder for chicken?
Do you think this recipe would be ok if I substituted pulled pork shoulder for chicken?
If you freeze one, do you thaw first or are your baking instructions from frozen? How do the noodles hold up after being frozen? I've started doing a lot of freezer cooking, but so many websites say pasta doesn't freeze well. Would love to hear your thoughts. Love your recipes!
Jennifer – I think broccoli would be great. Hope they enjoy the casserole.
Can you throw some veg in there? Like some green beans or broccoli? I have a friend whose mother passed away and I'm trying to make some easy, one dish meals for my friend, her hubby and their two kiddos.
Shanelle – yes, cook the chicken and noodles before assembling the casserole.
Sounds delicious! I have made several of your recipes and they are all met with rave reviews:) For this, do I need to cook the chicken and the noodles before putting in the baking dish?
Sherri – yes, Ritz crackers would work fine. Hope you like it!
I am going to make this tomorrow!! Could Ritz crackers be used instead of Club crackers?
I have to make this and do it soon, Steph. I know my kids will love it, just like they did your taco casserole.
I love casserole!
WARNING: Do not make this dish. Repeat. Do Not Make This Dish. You will not be able to stay out of it. You will not be able to stop at one serving. This happened to my entire family. We ate until we couldn't move, then sat in front of the TV all evening thinking of how to eat more of this stuff. Daughter didn't even finish her bread… and that's saying lots!
Joyce – you had me worried for a second. So glad your family love the casserole. Not eating your bread is a big deal here too!!
Jenny – yes, cook the noodles first. Hope you enjoy it!
Do I need to cook the noodles first?
This sounds delish!
Do I need to cook the noodles first?
This sounds delish!
This sounds delicious! I'm new here and love your blog! I'll be looking around now, esp. at those 7 up biscuits!
Steph, we sure were thinking alike today! LOL. I love the sour cream and poppy seeds in there!! Awesome photo too 🙂
I have made this before! It is easy and it tastes great. Next time try to use crumbled Doritos instead of the Club crackers.
ohmy! This sounds "to die for".
It sounds delicious and your shots make it look even more so.