Description
Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked dish loaded with tender rotisserie chicken, peas, and a flavorful blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, and cream cheese. Topped with a buttery cracker crumb crust and garnished with bacon and green onions, this comforting casserole is perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cut into cubes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 5 cups cooked rotisserie chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup frozen peas, unthawed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Topping
- 1 sleeve buttery round crackers (about 30), crushed
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
Garnish
- 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon
- 2 sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (177℃) and grease a 9×11 inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Cheese Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and softened cream cheese. Use an electric mixer to blend these ingredients thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper to evenly distribute the flavors throughout the cheese mixture.
- Incorporate Chicken and Peas: Gently fold in the cooked rotisserie chicken pieces and unthawed frozen peas, ensuring they are well incorporated without breaking up the chicken too much.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish for an even bake.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses uniformly on top of the chicken mixture.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed buttery round crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are fully coated.
- Top and Bake: Evenly sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs over the cheese layer. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the topping is golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish the casserole with the cooked, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions before serving to add extra flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Substitute fresh cooked chicken breasts if rotisserie chicken is unavailable. Cook 4 medium chicken breasts, then shred or cut into bite-sized pieces.
- You can halve the recipe if you only have 3 to 4 cups of cooked chicken and bake it in a smaller casserole dish accordingly.
- The casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
- For a lower sodium version, consider using low-sodium cream of chicken soup and reduced-sodium cheeses.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/7th of casserole (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
