Description
This comforting Million Dollar Chicken Rice-A-Roni Casserole combines flavorful chicken, creamy cheeses, and savory Rice-A-Roni into a rich and hearty dish, topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust and melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, it offers a deliciously cheesy and crispy topping with tender rice and chicken inside.
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Chicken:
- 1 (7.2-oz) box chicken Rice-A-Roni
- 2 cups cooked, chopped chicken
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 (10.5-oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
Topping:
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- ¼ cup melted butter
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and grease: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking and prepare for the casserole.
- Cook Rice-A-Roni: Prepare the chicken Rice-A-Roni according to the package directions, ensuring it is perfectly cooked and ready to mix.
- Combine cheese base: In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cottage cheese, and softened cream cheese until smooth and well combined to create a creamy base.
- Mix chicken and rice: Stir in the cooked, chopped chicken and the prepared Rice-A-Roni into the cheese mixture, blending all the flavors evenly.
- Assemble casserole: Spread the mixture evenly into the greased 9×13 inch baking dish, smoothing the top for an even layer.
- Prepare topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, mixing until the crumbs are evenly coated.
- Add topping and cheese: Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over the casserole surface, then top by spreading the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the cracker crust.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until the mixture is bubbly, the cheese has melted beautifully, and the topping is golden brown, indicating it is perfectly cooked.
Notes
- Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken to save preparation time.
- You can substitute the cottage cheese with ricotta for a different texture.
- For a lower sodium option, use reduced-sodium soup and cheese varieties.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking for easier serving.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, then baked when ready to serve.
