Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 30 minutes. After making this countless times, I’ve discovered the trick to a perfectly crispy topping. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Apple Pie Bars and Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits.
Why This Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy Ritz cracker topping
- Creamy, cheesy chicken filling
- Ready in 30 minutes or less
What You'll Need for Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Chicken breasts
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Ritz crackers
- Shredded cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Optional: Parsley
- Optional: Green onions
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Ensures even crumbs for the topping. → See on Amazon
- 9×13 baking dish — Perfect size for this casserole. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Step 2: Cook chicken breasts until done. Shred and set aside.
- Step 3: Mix soup, milk, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir in chicken.
- Step 4: Crush Ritz crackers and mix with melted butter. Sprinkle over chicken mixture.
- Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
- : For a faster cooking time, use a food processor to crush the Ritz crackers.
- Common mistake and fix: If the topping isn't crispy enough, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end.
- : For a creamier sauce, use evaporated milk instead of regular milk.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake.
Freezing Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Freeze before baking. Thaw overnight before cooking.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the casserole is still soupy after baking, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-read thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Ritz crackers
- Shredded cheese
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
Optional Toppings
- Parsley
- Green onions
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Step 2: Cook chicken breasts until done. Shred and set aside.
- Step 3: Mix soup, milk, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Stir in chicken.
- Step 4: Crush Ritz crackers and mix with melted butter. Sprinkle over chicken mixture.
- Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the casserole is still soupy after baking, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze before baking. Thaw overnight before cooking.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to bake.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 110mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the casserole and refrigerate it until ready to bake.
Overcooking can cause the chicken to become dry. Make sure to cook it to the recommended temperature and not longer.
No, this recipe is not suitable for the air fryer. It's best cooked in the oven.
A homemade cream sauce can be used as a substitute.
No, this recipe contains Ritz crackers which are not gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
