Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

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.

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