Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is creamy, comforting, and one of my favorite ways to use up leftover rotisserie chicken. It's quick, easy, and a family favorite!
Everything comes together in about 10 minutes. Just mix, pour, and bake.
But the real star of the show is that Ritz cracker topping! Buttery, golden, impossibly crunchy – it's what people remember.
This is my go-to chicken casserole for busy weeknights, and I think it’ll become one of yours too.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken: I love using rotisserie chicken for this recipe. It's juicy, flavorful, and saves so much time. But you can also use leftover cooked chicken, grilled chicken breasts, or canned chicken.
- Ritz Crackers: These buttery crackers give the casserole that iconic golden crunch. Simply put them in a large Ziploc bag and crush them with your hands or a rolling pin. Easy peasy.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: You can swap in cream of celery soup or cream of mushroom soup if that's what you have on hand. They all work great.
- Sour Cream: I go full-fat for the best texture, but light sour cream also works. You can also substitute with plain Greek yogurt.
- Butter: It’s the secret to achieving that coveted crispy, buttery Ritz cracker topping.
- Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
You’ll love how easy this casserole is to prepare! See the recipe card below for full ingredients, measurements, and directions.
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread into the baking dish.
3. Make the topping. Stir crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter in a bowl until coated.
4. Sprinkle the cracker topping over the chicken mixture. Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until hot, bubbly, and golden.
Recipe Tips
Follow these tips for the best creamy chicken casserole.
- Full-fat is where it’s at! Use full-fat sour cream for a richer, thicker casserole.
- Try a crushing trick. Put the Ritz crackers in a large Ziploc bag and crush them with your hands or a rolling pin.
- Keep it crispy. To keep the cracker topping crisp, don't cover the casserole while baking.
- Try fun variations. Add shredded cheddar cheese to the filling for a cheesy twist. Mix in frozen peas, broccoli florets, or other veggies. Or try crushed potato chips or cornflakes in place of Ritz for a different crunchy topping. You can also add a teaspoon of poppy seeds to the seasonings!
What To Serve with Ritz Chicken Casserole
I like to serve chicken casserole with green beans, broccoli, corn, or a fresh green salad. You can also serve it over hot rice for another great combo.
How to Store Leftovers
This casserole makes for wonderful leftovers!
To Store: Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and can be kept for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: The casserole can be frozen either baked or unbaked. For baked casserole, cool it completely, wrap tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 2 months.
For unbaked casserole, assemble without the cracker topping, wrap it well, and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then add the topping before baking.
To Reheat: For best results, reheat the casserole covered with aluminum foil at 350°F for about 20-25 minutes until warmed through. Individual portions can be microwaved until heated thoroughly.
Some of our Popular Chicken Recipes
Ritz Cracker Chicken
Ritz Cracker Pork Chops
Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Swiss Chicken Casserole
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Dorito Chicken Casserole
Chicken and Potato Casserole
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Chicken and Biscuit Casserole
Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a weeknight family favorite. It's rich and creamy with a buttery Ritz cracker topping!
8
servings10
minutes30
minutes365
kcalIngredients
4 cups cooked shredded chicken (from rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts)
1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed (about 45 crackers)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined. Spread the chicken mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter, stirring until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
- Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until hot and bubbly, and the cracker topping is crispy and lightly browned.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- For added flavor and nutrition, stir in 1-2 cups of steamed broccoli, peas, carrots, or mixed vegetables to the chicken mixture before topping it with crackers.
- Substitute cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup for the cream of chicken.
- For extra cheesy goodness, mix in 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese with the chicken.
- Use crushed potato chips, cornflakes, or panko bread crumbs in place of Ritz for a different crunchy topping.
Nutrition
- Calories: 365kcal
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.4g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 6.6g
- Cholesterol: 92mg
- Sodium: 628mg
- Potassium: 266mg
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Sugar: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Calcium: 76mg
110 Comments
Its a copy seed chicken recioe
My family’s very favorite. It’s been around for years. I make it often and it is devoured! I take to family or to sick friends it’s a great comfort food. Stays very hot. I serve with Rosemary Garlic Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans or Tossed Salad with yummy yeast rolls. If you make it once it will become a regular at your house
Made this recipe casserole for Easter. Added mixed vegetables, cheddar cheese and a can of cream of mushroom soup. It has absolutely no taste to it. Should I have increased the seasonings? Very disappointed with this recipe!!! Wasted 4 lbs of chicken breast and 2 cans of soup.
Delicious
This recipe was delicious! I added some cooked macaroni to the mixture to stretch it a bit and to be kid friendly.
Delicious
I would love this recipe 😋 and the family would love it looks delicious
Yummy and easy
My favorite and easiest recipe.
Delicious recipe, good easy lazy day meal, comfort food.
This is a very yummy dish. My family loves it! I grilled the chicken breast with my usual grilling seasoning and, oh my goodness, delicious! This recipe is not bland at all. I’ve actually made it a few times and didn’t grill the chicken my first time. Definitely a house favorite. I serve it up with some egg noodles and peas.
Delicious thank you
It wasn’t quite as flavorful as expected but it still was good. Next time I’ll use Cream of Celery Soup, double the amount of onion powder and perhaps add some thyme. I also think I’ll add shredded cheese to it.
Adding shredded cheddar cheese in it takes this dish over the top! My family loves it love ❤️
Was very good. Will definitely be making this again. I added 1 1/2 cups of chopped broccoli.
Looks yummy…but needs some veggies in with the chicken
The best ever. Although I did put 8 ounces of mild cheddar cheese on top under the ritz crackers. Delicious
Where’s the noodles? I don’t see them in the recipe.
Can I add long grain cooked rice to this before baking or will the rice get overcooked?
Loved it will have it again