Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a cozy, comforting meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to getting the perfect crispy topping. Keep reading for my best tips on how to make this casserole better than takeout. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Breakfast Rolls and Amish Cinnamon Flop.
Why This Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy Ritz cracker topping
- Creamy, flavorful chicken
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies
- Better than takeout taste
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
- Ritz crackers
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Jalapeño
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Optional: Shredded cheese
- Optional: Parsley
- Optional: Green onions
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Makes quick work of crushing Ritz crackers. → See on Amazon
- 8×8 inch baking dish — Perfect size for this casserole. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
- Prepare the chicken: Cook chicken breasts until no longer pink, then shred or dice.
- Mix the casserole: Combine cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, diced jalapeño, onion, and garlic.
- Assemble the casserole: Layer the chicken mixture, crushed Ritz crackers, and shredded cheese in an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become dry. To prevent this, cook chicken until it's just no longer pink and shred or dice immediately.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy crackers, mix crushed Ritz with a bit of melted butter before topping the casserole.
- Pro tip: Add your favorite veggies to the casserole for a one-pan meal. Broccoli, peas, or corn all work well.
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: Prepare the casserole up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge, then bake as directed.
Freezing Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Add a bit of milk to prevent drying.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier casserole, add more jalapeño or use canned diced jalapeños.
- Best substitution: Substitute cream of chicken soup with a mixture of milk, flour, and chicken broth for a homemade alternative.
- Make-ahead: This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Troubleshooting: If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature, preventing overcooking. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Ritz crackers
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Jalapeño
- Onion
- Garlic
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Optional Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Parsley
- Green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cook chicken breasts until no longer pink, then shred or dice.
- Mix the casserole: Combine cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, diced jalapeño, onion, and garlic.
- Assemble the casserole: Layer the chicken mixture, crushed Ritz crackers, and shredded cheese in an 8×8 inch baking dish.
- Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier casserole, add more jalapeño or use canned diced jalapeños.
- Best substitution: Substitute cream of chicken soup with a mixture of milk, flour, and chicken broth for a homemade alternative.
- Make-ahead: This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
- Scaling: This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Troubleshooting: If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Add a bit of milk to prevent drying.
- Make ahead: Prepare the casserole up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge, then bake as directed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 7g
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 up to 24 hours ahead. Store it in the fridge, then bake as directed.
Overcooking the chicken can cause the casserole to be dry. To prevent this, cook chicken until it's just no longer pink and shred or dice immediately.
While you can't make the entire casserole in the air fryer, you can cook the chicken in the air fryer before assembling the casserole.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions of this casserole for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
You can substitute a mixture of milk, flour, and chicken broth for a homemade alternative.
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!
