Description
This Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked dish loaded with shredded chicken, a blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise, topped with a buttery, crunchy cracker crust. Perfect for a comforting family dinner or potluck, it combines rich flavors with a satisfying texture contrast between the creamy filling and crisp topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup slivered almonds
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced (plus extra for garnish)
Topping
- 1½ cups crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make Creamy Mixture: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Then, stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper for seasoning.
- Combine Chicken and Cheeses: Fold the shredded chicken, 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions into the creamy mixture until well combined and evenly mixed.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed buttery crackers with melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moistened, creating a flavorful crunchy topping.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the surface.
- Bake First Stage: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
- Add Cheese and Final Bake: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top, and return it to the oven for another 5 minutes until the cheese melts completely.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, garnish with chopped parsley and additional sliced green onions before serving to add freshness and color.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for a smooth, creamy texture in the casserole filling.
- Rotisserie chicken adds great flavor and convenience, but any cooked chicken will work.
- The buttery cracker topping provides a necessary crunchy contrast to the creamy filling—don’t skip it!
- Bake until the edges are bubbling and the topping is golden brown to ensure the casserole is cooked through.
- You can assemble the casserole ahead of time without the cracker topping and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- For freezing, prepare the casserole before baking, freeze, then thaw overnight before adding the topping and baking.
- Optional add-ins like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded into the mixture without making it watery.
