Description
This comforting chicken casserole features tender chicken, a rich creamy sauce, and a buttery cracker topping. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings and is easy to customize with your favorite vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 can (26 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream (reduce or increase to taste)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- 1 sleeve buttery crackers (like Ritz), crushed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup steamed broccoli (optional, for added veggies)
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Cooking Steps
- Cook the Chicken: In a large pot, bring water and chicken stock to a boil. Add salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces, reduce heat, and simmer for 7–8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup and sour cream until smooth. For an extra creamy texture, mix in shredded cheddar cheese. Add cooked chicken and steamed broccoli (if using) and stir to combine.
- Assemble the Casserole: Pour the chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly.
- Make the Topping: In a small bowl, mix crushed crackers with melted butter. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the filling is bubbly.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving. Serve on its own or over cooked rice for a heartier meal.
Notes
- To reduce the sodium content, use low-sodium chicken stock and cream of chicken soup.
- Add variety by incorporating steamed vegetables like carrots, peas, or green beans.
- For a crunchy twist, mix shredded Parmesan cheese with the cracker topping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Comfort Foods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 90mg