Description

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting baked dish featuring tender rotisserie chicken, mixed with a rich blend of cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and cream of chicken soup. Topped with a buttery, crunchy cracker crumb topping and garnished with crispy bacon and fresh green onions, this casserole presents a delicious and hearty meal perfect for families and gatherings.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Main Ingredients

1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sour cream
1 can 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

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350℉ (175℃) and grease a 9×11-inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
Mix Creamy Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and cream cheese cubes. Use an electric mixer to blend these ingredients until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
Add Seasonings: Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper thoroughly into the creamy mixture to ensure even seasoning.
Incorporate Chicken and Peas: Fold in the cooked rotisserie chicken pieces and the unthawed frozen peas evenly into the cheese mixture, distributing the protein and vegetables throughout.
Assemble Casserole: Spread the chicken and cheese mixture evenly into the prepared casserole dish, creating a flat, uniform layer.
Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the top of the casserole for a rich, melty cover.
Prepare Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with the crushed buttery round crackers until the crumbs are well coated.
Top the Casserole: Evenly distribute the buttery cracker crumb mixture over the shredded cheese layer to add a crunchy texture once baked.
Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cracker topping is golden brown and crispy.
Garnish and Serve: Once baked, remove from the oven and garnish with the cooked, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions before serving to add flavor and visual appeal.

Notes

If you do not have leftover or rotisserie chicken, you can cook 4 medium chicken breasts as a substitute.
If you have only 3-4 cups of chicken available, consider cutting the recipe in half and using a smaller baking dish to maintain proper proportions and cooking time.
Ensure the peas are unthawed before mixing to prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
Use freshly crushed crackers for the topping as it provides better texture compared to pre-packaged crumbs.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/7th of casserole (approx. 1.25 cups)
Calories: 420 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 720 mg
Fat: 28 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
Trans Fat: 0.3 g
Carbohydrates: 15 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 29 g
Cholesterol: 105 mg