Description
Million dollar chicken and rice casserole brings comfort straight from Southern kitchens, blending creamy textures with hearty ingredients. Cheesy, golden layers promise a delightful meal you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups chopped cooked chicken
- 4 cups cooked rice
- 1 (10.5 ounces) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
Dairy and Creamy Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 5 tablespoons salted butter, melted
Seasoning and Topping:
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon dried onion powder
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Thoroughly mix shredded chicken, cooked rice, softened cream cheese, creamy cottage cheese, tangy sour cream, aromatic spices, and condensed cream soup in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
- Transfer the creamy mixture into a generously greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading evenly to ensure uniform coverage.
- Crush buttery crackers into fine, textured crumbs and blend with melted butter until the mixture resembles a golden, crumbly topping.
- Delicately scatter the buttery cracker crumbs across the surface of the chicken and rice mixture, creating a crisp, inviting layer.
- Position the casserole in a preheated oven set to 350°F, allowing the dish to bake for 35-40 minutes until the edges become gloriously bubbly and the cracker topping transforms into a rich, golden-brown crust.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes, allowing the intense flavors to meld and the texture to settle before serving.
Notes
- Cheese Swap: Use low-fat cream cheese or Greek yogurt to reduce calories while maintaining creamy texture.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace crackers with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice crackers for celiac-friendly version.
- Veggie Boost: Incorporate diced bell peppers, spinach, or frozen mixed vegetables to increase nutritional value and add color.
- Protein Alternative: Substitute chicken with rotisserie turkey, shredded tofu, or cooked white fish for diverse protein options.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg