Savory Home-Style Chicken Casserole Recipe Everyone Loves

Comfort food reaches new heights with this mouthwatering ultimate chicken casserole that promises to satisfy every craving.

Packed with layers of rich, creamy goodness, this dish blends tender chicken and hearty vegetables into a perfect one-pan meal.

Each bite delivers a harmonious mix of flavors that dance across your palate with delightful complexity.

Weeknight dinners never looked so inviting, with this simple yet impressive recipe that comes together effortlessly.

Cheese melts into golden, bubbly perfection, creating a crispy top that seals in all the delicious ingredients below.

Warm, filling, and absolutely delectable, this casserole transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Dive into this recipe and watch as it becomes an instant family favorite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 5

What’s Inside Ultimate Chicken Casserole

• Cooked Chicken: Select tender, juicy chicken that adds hearty protein and rich flavor to the casserole.
• Chicken Broth: Enhances moisture and deepens the savory essence of the entire dish.

• Cream of Chicken Soup, Sour Cream: Creates a luxurious, silky sauce that holds all ingredients together with tangy richness.
• Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Provides melty, stretchy texture and sharp, comforting dairy notes.

• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika, Black Pepper: Delivers layered, warm spice that elevates the casserole's overall taste profile.
• Pasta: Serves as a satisfying base that absorbs the creamy sauce.
• Frozen Vegetables: Adds nutritional variety and vibrant color to the dish.
• Crackers or Breadcrumbs, Butter: Creates a golden, crispy topping that provides delightful textural contrast.

Tools You’ll Use For Ultimate Chicken Casserole

• 9×13-inch casserole dish: Perfect for mixing and baking your entire meal.
• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining sauce and ingredients smoothly.
• Small bowl: Needed for preparing the cracker topping.
• Measuring cups: Help you accurately measure ingredients like cheese and broth.
• Measuring spoons: Crucial for precise seasoning with garlic and onion powder.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring ingredients and mixing everything together.
• Cheese grater: Optional, useful if you're grating fresh cheese instead of using pre-shredded.

How To Bake Ultimate Chicken Casserole Creamy And Cheesy

• Oven Prep

Warm up the kitchen by setting the oven to a toasty 375F. Grab a large baking dish and give it a quick spray of cooking oil to prevent sticking.

• Creamy Sauce Blend

Whisk together a luxurious sauce in a big mixing bowl. Combine creamy soup, tangy sour cream, and savory broth with a sprinkle of aromatic seasonings. Stir until the mixture becomes silky smooth.

• Hearty Mixture

Fold in tender chicken pieces, perfectly cooked pasta, melty cheese, and colorful vegetables. Gently mix everything so each bite will be packed with deliciousness.

• Cheesy Topping

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Shower the top with an extra layer of cheese that will create a golden, irresistible crust.

• Crispy Crunch

Crush some crackers and mix with melted butter. Scatter this crunchy topping across the casserole for a delightful texture contrast.

• Baking Magic

Slide the dish into the hot oven. Let it bubble and transform for about 25 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown and the edges are temptingly crisp.

• Serving Moment

Allow the casserole to rest and settle for a few minutes. This lets the flavors mingle and makes serving easier. Scoop out generous portions and enjoy the comfort food heaven.

Tips To Make Ultimate Chicken Casserole Even Better

• Chicken Casserole Kitchen Wisdom
• Creamy Texture Secret: Let ingredients sit at room temperature before mixing to ensure smoother, more consistent sauce blending.
• Low-Carb Magic: Replace pasta with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a lower-carbohydrate version that's equally delicious and nutritious.
• Protein Power Swap: Use rotisserie chicken, turkey, or even canned tuna as alternative protein sources when you want to mix up the classic recipe.
• Freezer-Friendly Hack: Prepare the entire casserole ahead of time, cover tightly with aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking, adding 10-15 minutes to cooking time.
• Veggie Boost Strategy: Experiment with different frozen vegetable combinations like mixed California blend, southwestern mix, or add fresh chopped spinach for extra nutrition and color variation.

Serving Ultimate Chicken Casserole With Comfort

• Comfort Food Companion: Pair this hearty casserole with a crisp green salad tossed in light vinaigrette for a refreshing contrast to the rich, creamy dish.
• Family Feast Style: Serve alongside steamed garlic green beans or roasted seasonal vegetables to add nutritional balance and extra color to your meal.
• Bread Lover's Delight: Warm crusty bread or buttery dinner rolls make perfect sides to soak up the delicious cheesy sauce and complete the comforting dining experience.
• Weekend Brunch Twist: Transform leftovers into a delightful breakfast by topping a slice with a sunny-side-up egg and fresh chopped herbs for an elevated morning meal.

Storing Ultimate Chicken Casserole Made Simple

• Meal Prep Magic: Cook extra chicken and pasta during weekly meal prep to cut down casserole preparation time by half.
• Refrigerator Storage Strategy: Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and preventing moisture buildup.
• Freezer-Friendly Technique: Wrap unbaked casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil to keep for 23 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before baking, adding 510 minutes to cooking time.
• Portion Control Hack: Divide casserole into individual serving sizes using small baking dishes or meal prep containers for easy grab-and-go lunches or quick weeknight dinners.

Hearty Chicken Casserole Recipe

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4.7 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty chicken casserole delivers comfort straight from Southern kitchens. Layers of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and crisp vegetables promise a satisfying meal that warms souls and brings families together.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups / 710 ml chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie recommended)
• 1 ½ cups / 170 g cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
• ½ cup / 55 g mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cups / 180 g pasta (elbow macaroni, penne, or egg noodles)
• 1 can (10.5 oz / 298 g) cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup / 240 ml sour cream
• ½ cup / 120 ml chicken broth
• 1 cup / 150 g frozen mixed vegetables (optional: peas, carrots, green beans)
• ½ cup / 60 g crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz) or breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsps / 30 ml butter, melted
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare: Ignite the oven to 375°F (190°C) and softly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, setting the stage for culinary magic.
2. Sauce Alchemy: Whisk cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper into a luxurious, velvety sauce that promises depth and richness.
3. Harmonious Blend: Combine cooked chicken, pasta, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and frozen vegetables within the creamy sauce, gently folding each ingredient to ensure a perfect, even distribution of flavors.
4. Assemble and Crown: Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared dish, lavishing the surface with an additional sprinkle of cheddar cheese for an extra layer of indulgence.
5. Crispy Topping Transformation: Crush crackers or breadcrumbs and meld with melted butter, then generously scatter this golden mixture across the casserole, promising a delightful textural contrast.
6. Bake to Perfection: Nestle the casserole in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, awaiting the moment when bubbling edges and a golden-brown topping signal culinary triumph.
7. Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole a brief moment to settle and concentrate its flavors before presenting this comforting masterpiece to eagerly waiting diners.

Notes

• Maximize Chicken Tenderness: Shred or dice chicken into uniform, bite-sized pieces ensures even cooking and prevents dry spots in the casserole.
• Customize Vegetable Selection: Swap frozen mixed vegetables with fresh seasonal options like broccoli, carrots, or peas to enhance nutritional value and personalize flavor profile.
• Control Moisture Balance: Drain excess liquid from cooked chicken and frozen vegetables to prevent watery casserole texture and maintain creamy consistency.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace regular crackers with gluten-free alternatives like crushed rice crackers or almond flour breadcrumbs for individuals with wheat sensitivities.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 13 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg