Million Dollar Chicken Casserole with noodles is a tasty and comforting dinner recipe that’s easy to put together. If you are looking for a quick meal that even picky eaters will enjoy, you need to add this one to your list. It’s perfectly creamy and cheesy with tons of flavor!
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This creamy chicken casserole is packed with savory flavor from the gooey cheese, bacon, and cream cheese. Several ingredients work together to create amazing texture and bold flavor! This recipe is called a “million dollar casserole” because it’s so good that it tastes like a million bucks.
If you like leftover rotisserie chicken recipes, you will love these BBQ Chicken Sliders and Mini Chicken Pot Pies.
Why You’ll Love This Million Dollar Chicken Bake
- It takes just 30 minutes to bake: Once the casserole is prepared, it only takes 30 minutes in the oven before it’s ready to devour.
- It’s a kid-approved dinner recipe: The creamy and cheesy flavors are enough to please even the pickiest kids. It’s one of the best meals to serve on a weeknight!
- You can use leftover chicken: Feel free to repurpose leftover chicken and use it in this million dollar pasta casserole.
Ingredients
This recipe consists of creamy elements to create a cheesy and flavorful filling with minimal seasoning. These items are common and many are popular enough that you may even have most of them already. I almost always have cream cheese and butter!
- Rotisserie chicken: I like to grab a rotisserie chicken to use for this recipe. It makes it super convenient. You may cook chicken breasts or thighs and shred them instead if you prefer.
- Cream of chicken soup: This ingredient adds flavor and a creamy consistency. It makes the perfect base to coat the chicken and pasta.
- Bacon: I like to cook and chop the bacon, so there are larger crispy pieces throughout the casserole. Bacon bits will work in a pinch if you want to save time.
- Cream cheese: The tangy flavor of the cream cheese balances the savory flavors of the other ingredients. Ensure it is softened so it mixes easily.
- Sour cream: I like to add sour cream as well for its acidity and richness. You may use full or low-fat sour cream. Greek yogurt is a wonderful substitute or you can even use cream of mushroom soup.
- Cheese: Part of the shredded Monterey jack cheese gets stirred into the chicken mixture while the other half is combined with the mozzarella to melt on the top of the casserole. You may use other cheeses like cheddar or an Italian blend if you like.
- Pasta: I use rotini pasta but you may use any shape you like. Penne, ziti, medium shells, and even elbow macaroni are great options. You can even try making million dollar chicken spaghetti! Boil your pasta in chicken broth for even more flavor.
- Ritz crackers: I like the crispy texture and salty, buttery flavor of Ritz crackers. Use breadcrumbs or even club crackers if you prefer.
- Butter: The melted butter is mixed with the crushed crackers to create a crunchy topping for the million dollar casserole. I use salted butter but unsalted butter works as well.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Buffalo Ranch: Stir in buffalo sauce and ranch seasoning for bold flavor and spice.
- Southwest: Add bell peppers and corn to the chicken and pasta mixture and top it with diced tomatoes and olives for delightful southwest flavors.
- Mushroom and spinach: Add sliced mushrooms and spinach for color and earthiness. Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom.
- Spicy and zesty flavors: Add a ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for added flavor!
How to Make Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
Here are the steps to make this million dollar chicken recipe. Ensure that you preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 baking dish before you get started.
Step 1: Make the chicken mixture. Combine the shredded chicken, soup, half the bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, onion powder, and half the cheese in a large mixing bowl. Stir until the ingredients are well mixed.
Step 2: Add the pasta. Add the cooked rotini pasta to the bowl and gently stir the mixture until the pasta is well coated in the sauce.
Step 3: Transfer and add cheese. Pour the filling into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
Step 4: Make and add the topping. Mix the melted butter with the crushed Ritz crackers and then sprinkle them over the top of the cheese.
Step 5: Bake. Put it in the oven and bake it for about 30 minutes. It’s ready when the crackers are golden, the cheese is melted, and the edges start to bubble.
Step 6: Garnish and serve. Top with the remaining chopped bacon and fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overcook the pasta: I like to cook the pasta until al dente so it doesn’t become mushy after it continues to cook in the oven.
- Cover when reheating leftovers: When you are heating the leftovers in the oven, cover them with aluminum foil so they don’t dry out. I also recommend covering it with a damp paper towel if you use the microwave.
- Let it rest after cooking: Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving it so it holds its shape better when scooping it.
- Chunky cream cheese: If the cream cheese is still chunky, that’s not a problem! It will melt perfectly in the oven.
If you love hearty chicken recipes like this chicken dish, you may also enjoy Crack Chicken Sliders.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers covered tightly with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze the prepared casserole by covering it tightly and placing the container flat in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw or bake from frozen!
- Reheating: You may reheat an individual portion in the microwave for 2-3 minutes on 50% power or place the casserole dish into a 350-degree oven for about 15-20 minutes or until warmed through and bubbly.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Add a couple of minutes to the cooking time and bake it cold!
Serving Suggestions
- You can’t go wrong with warm bread and cheesy pasta! Serve this million dollar chicken bake with some freshly cooked air fryer dinner rolls or my copycat Cheesecake Factory brown bread.
- Pick an easy veggie side dish. I recommend sauteed cauliflower or these glazed green beans and carrots.
- I like a tasty dessert after a comforting meal. Try this recipe for these chewy magic cookie bars.
Recipe FAQs
Of course. Prepare as directed without adding the pasta. I recommend cooking it on low for about 2 hours. Then stir in the pasta and add the cheese and cracker crumbs on top. The residual heat will melt the cheese. You can also transfer it to a baking dish, add the cheese and cracker crumbs, and broil in your oven until golden on top.
Ovens vary and can sometimes be hotter than expected. Cover your million dollar pasta casserole with foil for the first 20 minutes of cooking and then remove it for the remaining time to brown the top.
Sure thing! It's possible to make it ahead of time and freeze it for later but I find there is often some slight separation after cooking due to the dairy ingredients. If you decide to freeze it, prepare and assemble the dish as directed but do not bake. Wrap the dish in plastic wrap or foil and store it in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you want to cook it, you can place your frozen casserole into the oven at 350°F for 50 minutes to an hour. If the crackers start to get too brown, you can cover with foil and continue baking.
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More Delicious Chicken Casserole Recipes
Do you like easy casserole recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole with Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 10.5-ounce cans cream of chicken soup
- 4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken about 1 full rotisserie chicken
- 1 pound bacon cooked crisp and crumbled or chopped, divided
- 6 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
- ¾ cup sour cream
- ½ tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Colby jack cheese blend divided
- 4 cups rotini pasta cooked to package instructions
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 sleeve ritz crackers crushed, (about 32 crackers)
- 3 tablespoons salted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir together the cream of chicken soup, half of the bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic and onion powder. The cream cheese may remain slightly chunky, this is ok, it will melt when baked.
- Add the pasta to the mixture and fold in carefully so you don’t break the noodles up too much.
- Add the mixture to your casserole dish and top with the mozzarella and the remaining Monterey Colby jack cheese.
- In a small bowl, combine the crackers and butter, folding lightly until you have a fluffy mixture and all crackers are lightly coated in butter and sprinkle over the cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until the crackers are golden and the edges are bubbly.
- Garnish with the green onion and remaining bacon and serve warm.
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Notes
- Don’t overcook the pasta: I like to cook the pasta until al dente so it doesn’t become mushy after it continues to cook in the oven.
- Use the slow cooker. Prepare as directed but leave out the the pasta and cook it on low for about 2 hours. Add the pasta, stir together, and finish with the cheese and cracker crumbs on top. The residual heat will melt the cheese. You can also transfer it to a baking dish, add the cheese and cracker crumbs, and broil in your oven until golden on top.
- Make ahead and freeze: Prepare and assemble the dish as directed, but do not bake. Wrap the dish in plastic wrap or foil and store it in the freezer for 2-3 months. When you want to cook it, place the frozen casserole into the oven and cook at 350°F for 50 minutes to an hour. If the crackers start to get too brown, you can cover with foil and continue baking. Since the sauce contains dairy, there may be some separation in the sauce after freezing it.
Nutrition
This post was originally published May 2016. It's been updated with new content and images.
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