Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe

Super simple and classic, Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a sure-to-please family favorite dinner. It is creamy, rich, and decadent, but the buttery crackers offer a crunchy textural contrast, which will have people coming back for seconds. The herbs offer some fresh earthy and grassy notes which pairs nicely with the chicken. Pair it with rice for the perfect dinner.

Learn how to make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, and surprise your family with their new favorite dinner tonight.

Ingredients for Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

The ingredients for Million Dollar Chicken Casserole are all about rich, comforting flavors. You have likely made many chicken casseroles with some of these ingredients, so we brought them together for the ultimate meal:

• Cream of chicken soup: You can use a homemade replacement if you want, but there’s no beating the savory flavor of this convenience product.
• Cream cheese: This casserole is all about decadence, so there are several ingredients that make it creamy and rich. Cream cheese adds a nice body to the dish.
• Cottage cheese: It may have been a momentary “it” ingredient, but home cooks know the magic of cottage cheese in recipes. It’s rich and tangy.
• Sour cream: Adds a smoothness to the casserole with a nice tang.
• Onion powder: Adds a hint of umami-rich onion flavor without needing to sauté any onions.
• Garlic powder: The same trick works here with garlic powder. You get the flavor without needing to cook it. That makes for a faster, easier meal.
• Scallions: Adds freshness and grassy notes that stand apart from the rich casserole.
• Chicken: Using a rotisserie chicken cuts down on prep.
• Parsley: For brightness and freshness to contrast the filling.
• Buttery round crackers: We’re talking Ritz. They’re the ultimate casserole topping.
• Unsalted butter: Wakes up the buttery flavor of the crackers and helps them turn golden brown when baked.
• Thyme: A final hint of woody, floral flavor. Many chicken casseroles like this one skip the fresh ingredients, but we think they really make it something special.
• White rice: We think this is the perfect partner to this casserole, but you could also use any other type of rice, even pasta. Egg noodles are fun, too.

How To Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

You’ll love how easy this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is to make. We’ve included a brief overview here, and the full recipe with step-by-step photos is further below:

• Stir together the casserole ingredients: In a bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, cream cheese (it needs to be softened so it’ll mix more easily), cottage cheese, sour cream, onion powder, and garlic powder.
• Add scallions: Fold the white and light green parts of scallions to the casserole mixture, along with the chicken and parsley. (Save the dark green parts for later.)
• Make the cracker topping: Combine the crushed crackers, butter, and thyme.
• Add casserole to dish: Spoon the chicken casserole into a baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with the crackers.
• Bake: Bake the chicken casserole until bubbly in a 350°F; the crackers will be golden brown. Garnish with the dark green scallions. Serve over rice or pasta.

How To Serve Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Serve Million Dollar Chicken Casserole over rice or pasta, and finish the plate with a salad or roasted green beans. We like other green vegetables for this dish, too, such as Crispy Smashed Brussels Sprouts or even Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.

Variations

You can use your creativity and change up your Million Dollar Chicken Casserole for something your family will love. Here are a few ideas:

• More vegetables: Add mushrooms, peas, or broccoli, or really any veggie that you like!
• Change the chicken: Try flavored rotisserie chickens and different herbs for a different flavor profile.
• Switch the topping: You can use crushed pretzels or saltine crackers as a topper.
• Add some savory bacon: Stir in bacon for the ultimate, over-the-top rich casserole.

How To Store Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Store leftover casserole in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days. Reheat servings individually in the microwave, or reheat the remaining casserole in a 350°F oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.

Can You Freeze Million Dollar Chicken Casserole?

You can freeze the whole dish as an easy way to get ahead for a future meal—or to even make a casserole for a friend or family member who needs a warm, homemade meal.

Make this casserole up through Step 5, but leave off the cracker topping. Then, wrap the dish in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to bake, thaw the dish in a refrigerator overnight. Make the cracker topping, sprinkle it on top, and bake. You may need to add a few minutes because the dish will be cold when it starts baking. If the topping gets dark before the casserole is warm, add aluminum foil to the top.