Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is savory, tangy, and creamy chicken-comfort-food deliciousness. It’s easy to make from pantry staples on those nights when you just can’t figure out what’s for dinner.

The first time I saw a recipe for Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, I thought it sounded ridiculous and not like any kind of casserole I knew. It didn’t have rice or noodles, and who ever heard of putting cottage cheese in a casserole?

lol My husband will tell you, I’m rarely wrong about anything. Right, Honey? But, this was one of those extremely rare occasions.

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is absolutely scrumptious! My hasty judgment almost caused us to miss out on a favorite simple and versatile dish.

What is Million Dollar Chicken Casserole?

It’s chunks of chopped or shredded chicken in a simple, creamy and flavorful sauce topped with a crispy, buttery cracker topping. Your first bite will help you understand the name.

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is so simple I have hesitated to share it with you guys. I was afraid your first reaction would be similar to mine when you read the unique recipe.

It’s very similar to another chicken casserole recipe from that era, Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole. Both recipes rested untouched in my recipes-to-try folder for more than a decade.

When I finally decided to put my own spin on Million Dollar Chicken Casserole and see what the hype was about, I was shocked.

It turns out that we actually love it. And since it has so many easy, delicious ways it can be served, I decided to share this mouthwatering chicken casserole recipe with you just in time for back to school.

I don’t even have an origin story for you on this one. It’s been in my collection for more than 20 years, but in researching this week, I haven’t found a single claim for being the “original.”

My guess is a busy mom who needed dinner in a hurry tossed together ingredients she had on hand, and they yielded a delicious result. Most long-standing delicious comfort food recipes seem to start that way.

I hope this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole recipe makes your scramble for easy, delicious weeknight dinners this school year less stressful. Enjoy!

The Ingredients

This easy recipe adapts quickly to ingredients you already have on hand. I often change up the seasoning based on what’s in my pantry. I’m writing out the recipe today based on the ingredients I used for this post. But be sure to check out the list of potential substitutions and make this tasty chicken casserole recipe your own.

• Pre-cooked Chicken, chopped or shredded
• Cream of Chicken Soup
• Cottage Cheese, small curd
• Sour Cream
• Cream Cheese
• All-Purpose Seasoning
• Round Butter Crackers (like Ritz), crushed
• Butter, melted

Tips & Substitutions

1. I used easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts from my fridge to make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, today. But Perfect Baked Chicken Breasts would be excellent, too. Rotisserie Chicken will work beautifully, too.

2. Cottage cheese — I encourage you to give this one a try. It literally melts into the chicken adding creaminess, and you won’t find any of the cottage cheese texture left in the casserole. However, if you really need a sub, try ricotta and add more sour cream or even a little chicken broth to keep the casserole from becoming too dry.
3. You can substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream in this recipe.

4. I had my Best All Purpose Seasoning in the pantry, so that’s what I used. However, this recipe is excellent with Cajun seasoning, too. For added flavor, I also like to mix 2 teaspoons of my homemade chicken bouillon with whichever seasoning I use.
5. Use homemade cream of chicken soup if you don’t like canned. Here’s my cream of chicken soup recipe with a gluten free option.
6. Some versions of this recipe call for a layer of grated cheese before the cracker crumbs. I haven’t made it that way, but it could be a delicious variation depending on the cheese you use and what you’ll serve it with.
7. I buy store-brand butter crackers. They are just as delicious as the name brand — absolutely no difference in taste or texture.
8. You could always add veggies or carbs into your Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, but honestly, the versatility of keeping it simple and using the leftovers in so many different ways is the reason I keep coming back to this recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a scrumptious main dish on its own. We often serve it the first night just as it is, creamy, savory delicious chicken with our favorite sides.

But we also enjoy it over buttered noodles or mashed potatoes. It’s also spectacular over zucchini noodles (zoodles), mashed cauliflower or brown rice.

One of my favorite things about this chicken casserole recipe is its versatility. We have enjoyed leftovers in chicken burritos, rice bowls, quesadillas and on hoagie rolls.

It also makes killer chicken nachos and is delicious in a wrap with fresh, crunchy veggies. Let your imagination guide you to all the delicious possibilities with Million Dollar Chicken Casserole leftovers.

How to Store Leftovers

Refrigerator

You can store Million Dollar Chicken Casserole leftovers in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container with its own tightly fitting lid or by covering the container with plastic wrap or foil.

Freezer

This Million Dollar Chicken Casserole recipe freezes really well, too. To freeze it before baking, freeze only the chicken filling mixture, not the crushed crackers. Thaw the casserole overnight in the fridge. Top with the crushed crackers and bake as instructed in the recipe.

To freeze the chicken casserole after baking, cool it completely. Seal in an airtight container and freeze. Thaw the frozen casserole in the fridge. It can be reheated in the oven or an air fryer.

We find that the crackers crisp up best in the air fryer when heating single servings. But if reheating a large amount of casserole, cover it with foil and pop it back in the oven at 350°. When the casserole is heated through, remove the foil and place the dish under the broiler for one or two minutes to crisp up the crackers.

What to Serve with Your Casserole

Enjoy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole with any of your favorite sides. Try it with:

And if you’re looking for a million-dollar dessert to share after this delicious chicken recipe, you should check out my friend Paula’s Buttermilk Pie. It’s a great retro option to go with this vintage million-dollar chicken casserole recipe.

How to Make Million-Dollar Chicken Casserole

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly spray or grease an 8×8 or 9×9 square pan.
3. Mix the shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese and All-Purpose Seasoning in a large mixing bowl.

4. Spread the mixture evenly into your prepared pan.
5. Combine melted butter and cracker crumbs and sprinkle them over the chicken mixture.
6. Cover with a lid or foil and bake.
7. Bake covered for 30 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly.  Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes uncovered to crisp up and brown the cracker crumbles.

More Tasty Casseroles

Be sure to check out these delicious, family-friendly casseroles, too. Weeknight dinners have never been so easy!

The Recipe