Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

Ingredients

• 8 ounces wide egg noodles (227 g)
• 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped (280 g)
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (227 g)
• 1 cup sour cream (230 g)
• 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup (305 g)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (2 g)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (1 g)
• 1 1/2 cups buttery round crackers, crushed (150 g)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (57 g)

Instructions

1. Prepare the dish. Heat the oven to 350°F and butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Keep the baking dish nearby so the finished filling can move directly from bowl to pan.
2. Cook the noodles. Boil the egg noodles until just tender, following package timing. Drain them very well in a colander, then return them to the empty pot. Let steam escape for a minute while you mix the creamy ingredients.
3. Make the sauce. In a large bowl, stir cream cheese, sour cream, condensed soup, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt until smooth. Press remaining cream cheese bits against the bowl with the back of your spoon until the mixture looks even.
4. Fill the pan. Fold the noodles and chopped cooked chicken into the sauce until coated. Scrape the mixture into the buttered dish and spread it evenly. Make sure chicken pieces are distributed throughout rather than sitting in one area.
5. Top and bake. Mix crushed crackers with melted butter, then scatter them evenly over the filling. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, until the edges bubble and the topping is golden. Bake until 165°F in the center.
6. Rest and portion. Rest the casserole for 10 minutes before serving. This brief pause lets the creamy filling settle and makes four cleaner portions. Spoon any sauce left in the dish over each serving.

Notes

• A 9-by-13-inch dish gives the intended thin, crisp-topped casserole. For a deeper dish, expect extra baking time and check the center temperature before serving.
• Dark meat chicken is particularly useful for portions you plan to freeze. Its texture tends to stay more forgiving after thawing and reheating than breast meat alone.
• The cracker topping is best added immediately before baking. If preparing ahead, cover the filling separately and refrigerate the buttered crumbs in another container.

Nutrition Facts