Everyone will love the flavor of this Ultimate Chicken Casserole Recipe! Loaded with tender chicken in a creamy sauce, plenty of vegetables, and a crisp onion topping it is a sure to become a family favorite. If you're a fan of casseroles, this literally makes the perfect meal.
Having a recipe for a comforting casserole full of delicious flavors is a must. You can use this as a fun way to make the ultimate comfort food or a simple way to learn and make a new chicken recipe. I love making this during casserole season because it's full of juicy chicken and such an easy dinner recipe.
The one thing that is for sure about this easy chicken casserole recipe is that it's made using simple ingredients that the whole family can enjoy. There will also likely be leftovers for the next day, which is a great way to make a meal last longer, giving you a night off in the kitchen.
Be sure to check out my Loaded Green Bean Casserole Recipe for another easy and flavorful casserole dish.
Ingredients
Cooked chicken - You can use already cooked chicken or leftover chicken for this recipe. (Deli-roasted chicken is great to use as well)
Egg noodles - Tender egg noodles pair really well with the other textures of this dish.
Mixed vegetables - This is an easy way to add more veggies to dinner. We used a combo of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots.
Cream cheese - This will need to be at room temperature to mix well with the cheddar cheese or type of cheese that you use.
Sour cream - Helps to add creaminess to the casserole.
Mayonnaise - Adds flavor and texture.
Milk - This is used to keep the casserole mixture thin.
Shredded cheese - Pick your favorite type of cheese.
Bacon crumbles - Cook and add a cup bacon or buy the crumbles already made that way.
Green onions - Perfect for a topping.
Minced onion - You can use sweet onion or whatever type of onion you like best.
Garlic powder - For flavor.
Salt - To taste.
Pepper - To taste.
Fried Onions - French-fried onions add a great crunch. You could also use bread crumbs on top if you'd like.
How to Make the Ultimate Chicken Casserole Recipe
Step One: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step Two: In a large mixing bowl, mix the sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, milk, and spices. Stir.
Step Three: Add the chicken, noodles, veggies, ¾ of the cheese, and ¼ cup of the bacon. Mix.
Step Four: Pour mixture into a 9X13 baking dish greased with non stick cooking spray. Add the French fried onions, the rest of the cheese, and 2 tablespoons of bacon on top. You can also add chives.
Step Five: Bake for 35 minutes. Let rest for a couple minutes and then serve right from the baking pan.
Variations
Add different cooked pasta - I like using egg noodles because they make tender noodles, but you can easily swap it out for other types. You can also leave out the noodles altogether and instead use a pie crust to put on the bottom of the prepared pan.
Add more spices - Change the flavor by adding some curry powder or cayenne pepper to this easy weeknight meal. Adding a little bit of different flavors to this creamy chicken noodle casserole isn't hard to do at all. You can easily vary it for any picky eater. For a bolder flavored casserole try our Chicken Poblano Casserole Recipe, Mississippi Chicken Casserole Recipe, or Jalapeno Tater Tot Casserole Recipe.
Use leftover chicken - You can keep this comforting chicken noodle casserole recipe super simple by using leftover cooked chicken. If you have leftover boneless chicken breasts or even a rotisserie chicken that you can turn into shredded chicken, that's such an easy option.
Common Questions
Can I prepare the chicken mixture in advance?
You can. If you want to make the casserole mixture and prep it in a medium bowl the day before, do so. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to add it to the dish to bake. I don't recommend making this more than one day in advance as you don't want it to set too long before baking.
How do I store leftovers?
Since this recipe is full of chicken, cheese, and other ingredients that need to be kept cold, storing leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge is a must. Just be sure to let the mixture cool down before adding it to the container, as you don't want to trap condensation inside while it's still warm. This will result in the casserole having extra liquid, making it a soggy mess potentially.
When should I serve casseroles?
Casseroles are actually really versatile. You can serve them at your next potluck or the next time that you need to feed the family a large and hearty meal. Since the ingredients are common and the chicken is a nice and simple lean meat, it's really a great option for all.
Just pair the casserole with a simple side salad and a refreshing drink, and you've got quite the meal.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb cooked chicken cubed or shredded
- ½ lb egg noodles cooked and drained
- 2 cups mixed vegetables thawed and drained
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 oz sour cream
- 4 oz mayo
- ¼ cup milk
- 8 oz shredded cheddar
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons bacon crumbles
- 1 tablespoon green onions or fresh chives finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon dried minced onion
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup french fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, milk, and spices and mix thoroughly.
- To the cream cheese mixture, you just made add the chicken, noodles, mixed vegetables, ¾ of the cheese, and the ¼ cup bacon crumbles and mix well.
- Dump into a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle french fried onions, remaining cheese, 2 tablespoons bacon crumbles, and extra chives on top.
- Bake until hot about 35 minutes.
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