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Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole is a creamy baked chicken casserole with a golden, buttery crushed-cracker topping and bubbling cheddar. Tender shredded chicken mixes into a smooth cream cheese, sour cream, and mayo sauce, then bakes until hot and bubbly.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

chicken
  • 3 cup cooked shredded chicken Use cooked chicken; shred while warm if possible.
cream cheese mixture
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
cheese and topping
  • 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup crushed buttery crackers
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 0.25 Fresh chives, for garnish Optional but adds color.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep and preheat
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a baking dish.
Make the creamy chicken base
  1. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and garlic powder until smooth.
  2. Fold in shredded chicken and half the cheddar cheese.
Assemble
  1. Spread the mixture into the baking dish and top with the remaining cheddar.
  2. Toss crushed buttery crackers with melted butter and sprinkle over the top.
Bake and finish
  1. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  2. Garnish with fresh chives before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: shred the chicken while it’s still warm so it mixes in more evenly. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in the oven at 325°F until hot. Freezing is best avoided because the creamy sauce can become grainy after thawing. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cream cheese and light sour cream to cut saturated fat while keeping the same casserole texture.