Description
Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked dish loaded with tender cooked chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and a crunchy buttery cracker topping. Perfect as a comforting main course, it combines rich flavors with a crispy golden crust for a delightful meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Mixture
- 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)
Cracker Topping
- 1½ cups crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prepare for casserole assembly.
- Mix Cream Base: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to season the mixture evenly.
- Add Chicken and Cheeses: Fold in the cooked chicken, shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions. Mix until all ingredients are evenly combined for a well-blended casserole filling.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a separate small bowl, combine the crushed buttery crackers with the melted butter, stirring until the crackers are evenly moistened to create the crunchy topping.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the top to add texture and flavor.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the dish is bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown and crisp.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top, then return it to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, garnish with chopped parsley and extra sliced green onions. Serve warm for a comforting and flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese to ensure a smooth and creamy texture in the casserole.
- Rotisserie chicken is ideal for flavor and ease, but any cooked chicken works well.
- Don’t skip the crunchy cracker topping; it adds a delicious buttery contrast to the creamy casserole.
- Bake until bubbling at the edges and topping is golden for best doneness and taste.
- To make ahead, assemble without the cracker topping, refrigerate up to 24 hours, then add the topping before baking.
- For freezing, freeze the casserole unbaked, thaw overnight in the fridge, add the cracker topping, and bake as directed.
- Optional add-ins like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in without watering down the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
