Name: Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers; 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup with herbs; 3 cups rotisserie chicken (diced into ¾ to 1-inch pieces); 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted); ¾ cup sour cream; ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used Lowry’s brand)

This Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is one of the simple comfort dinners I rely on when I want something warm, creamy, and dependable. Tender chicken bakes in a savory, creamy sauce and finishes with a buttery Ritz cracker topping that adds the perfect crunch.

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Table of Contents

Why This Easy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Is So Good
Ingredients For Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
The Secret To The Best Ritz Topping
How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole
Serving Ideas
Storing Leftovers and Make-Ahead Tips
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Table of Contents

When all my kids gather around the table, there are few dinners that disappear as quickly as my Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole. We've made this exact recipe over and over, so I promise it's going to bake up creamy, balanced, and reliable every time.

The combination of rotisserie chicken, a simple creamy filling, and a buttery Ritz topping creates the kind of comfort food that always delivers. Plus, it's easy to throw together on busy weeknights.

My family often asks for this meal, so I make it when I want something warm and satisfying without complicated preparation. After making it so many times, I’ve learned a few small details that help the casserole turn out just right, and those are the tips I share throughout this post.

First, a note about portioning:

Portion Note - Doubling This Recipe

I've created this recipe to make an 8×8 dish, so it realistically serves:

4 generous portions
or 5–6 smaller portions

I am usually feeding my big, hungry family, so you might want to do what I do, and double it. You can bake in a 9×13 and it will work out great.

Why This Easy Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole Is So Good

Good moisture balance. The combo of sour cream, condensed soup, and chicken broth makes sure the filling is never too thick or pasty. It stays creamy, guaranteed.
Rotisserie chicken. A blend of the dark and white meat from rotisserie chicken keeps the casserole juicy and flavorful. Plus, it's just so easy.

3. Proper Ritz topping ratio. I've perfected the topping ratio and method, so the cracker crust is going to brown nicely and stay crunchy.

4. The seasoning level suits the whole family. Seasoned salt + garlic powder + pepper will keep it from tasting flat, but it's not spicy or complicated. Everyone will enjoy the flavor, from the toddlers all the way up to the grown-ups.

Ingredients For Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

What you'll need to make Ritz casserole:

Cream of chicken soup with herbs - the traditional cream of chicken will also work, but you may want to sprinkle in a pinch of poultry seasoning, or a bit of thyme to add a bit of extra flavor.
Melted butter
Chicken broth
Sour cream - we like the full-fat best for this recipe.
Chicken - a grocery store or Costco rotisserie works great! You can also bake or boil chicken, or use leftover.
Crushed Ritz crackers - see my notes below for tips before you crush your crackers.
Seasonings - black pepper, seasoned salt, and garlic powder

The Secret To The Best Ritz Topping

The most common mistake with Ritz casseroles is actually really simple to avoid:

Don’t crush the crackers too fine.

A lot of people turn them into sand-like crumbs, which seems logical, kind of like bread crumbs, but it ruins the topping.

If the crumbs are too fine, the butter soaks in too fast and turns the topping into a greasy paste. Instead, aim for small, rough pieces.

The easiest way:

Put the crackers in a zip bag.
Gently press them with your hands or a rolling pin.
Stop when you have a mix of small crumbs and little chunks.

That mix creates a topping that becomes buttery, crispy, and lightly golden. Ahhh Ritz Casserole perfection.

One more tiny trick: After you sprinkle the topping on the casserole, don’t press it down. Leave it loose and fluffy.

How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

This recipe is so very simple to make. The complete steps are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

FIRST STEP: Whisk together the filling ingredients and seasonings, then fold in the chicken pieces.

Diced rotisserie chicken being added to a bowl of creamy chicken casserole filling, with crushed Ritz crackers and additional chicken visible in bowls nearby. — The size of the chicken chunks is important for the right texture. Instead of shredding the rotisserie chicken, I prefer chopping the chicken meat into ½ to 1-inch pieces.

SECOND STEP: Spread the filling evenly in your baking dish.

Creamy chicken casserole filling spread evenly in a white 8x8 baking dish, ready to be topped with buttery Ritz cracker crumbs before baking.

THIRD STEP: Stir the butter and crushed Ritz crackers until just coated.

Ritz cracker chicken casserole topped with buttery crushed Ritz crackers in a white 8x8 baking dish, ready to go into the oven. — Spread right to the edges, so every bite is full of crispy Ritz topping.

STEP FOUR: Bake the casserole uncovered. I usually place my casseroles on a baking sheet to catch any of the filling that might bubble over.

You'll know the casserole is done when the filling is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.

Tips For Perfect Topping

Bake the casserole on the middle rack, but if the topping isn’t golden enough at the end, turn on the broiler for 30–60 seconds.

It gives the Ritz topping that deep buttery toastiness without drying out the casserole.

Every oven is a bit different, so if your topping starts to get too browned before the filling is hot, tent the topping with foil, but don't seal it around the edges of the pan, and allow it to cook for 5-10 minutes more.

Serving of Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole on a white plate, showing the creamy chicken filling topped with buttery golden Ritz cracker crumbs.

Serving Ideas

If you still have some Ritz crackers to use up, you'll love my Ritz cracker breaded chicken for dinner tomorrow. Either dish will serve up nicely with homemade dinner rolls or a tasty side salad.

Why not use Ritz for dessert, too? Whip up a tray of Ritz cracker toffee in minutes, for everyone's favorite addictive treat.

Storing Leftovers and Make-Ahead Tips

This casserole keeps well and reheats easily, which makes leftovers worth saving.

Fridge - Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The filling stays creamy, but the Ritz topping will soften slightly as it sits.

Reheating: Use the microwave and warm until heated through. If you prefer the topping to crisp up again, reheat the casserole in a 350°F oven for about 10–15 minutes until hot.

Freezer - This casserole will technically freeze, but we don't recommend it. The topping doesn't thaw well.

Make Ahead - If you need to save time, prepare the filling ahead and spread it in the baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

But stir the melted butter and crackers together just before baking. Otherwise, the crust gets soggy and bakes up more like a bread pudding than a crispy golden topping.

Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings servings

Calories 730 kcal

Ingredients

2 cups crushed Ritz crackers
10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup with herbs
3 cups rotisserie chicken (diced into ¾ to 1-inch pieces)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
¾ cup sour cream
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used Lowry’s brand)

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place an 8×8-inch casserole dish onto a rimmed baking tray. Set aside.
Whisk together the cream of chicken with herb soup, sour cream, chicken broth, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Fold the diced rotisserie chicken into the soup mixture. Don't break up the pieces of chicken, just fold gently.
Scoop the chicken casserole filling into the casserole dish. Smooth out the top with a spatula.
Stir the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter in a small bowl.
Evenly coat the entire surface of the casserole with the cracker crumbs. Try to spread it right to the edges.
Bake the Ritz cracker chicken casserole for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.

Notes

Use rotisserie chicken for the best flavor and texture. Dice it into ¾–1 inch pieces so it stays tender in the sauce.
Stir the soup, sour cream, and broth until completely smooth before adding the chicken. This keeps the filling creamy instead of streaky.
Crush the Ritz crackers into mixed sizes. A few larger pieces create a better buttery crunch after baking.
Add the butter to the crackers just before topping the casserole so the crumbs stay crisp.
Bake until the edges are bubbling and the topping is lightly golden. That is the sign the filling has fully heated through.

Nutrition

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