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Crispy Crack Chicken Noodle Casserole with Ritz Topping

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A quick and easy weeknight casserole featuring tender chicken, creamy sauce, egg noodles, and a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker topping. Comfort food with a crunchy twist that’s perfect for cozy dinners and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (rotisserie chicken works perfectly)
  • 8 ounces egg noodles, cooked al dente
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning mix (about 1 ounce or 28 grams)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (can substitute Greek yogurt)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (about 14 crackers), crushed
  • 4 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • Salt to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook according to package instructions, about 7-8 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. If not using pre-cooked chicken, poach or sauté chicken breast until cooked through. Dice or shred into bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a large skillet over medium heat, add softened cream cheese and stir occasionally until softened further.
  4. Add ranch seasoning mix, sour cream, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to the skillet. Stir until smooth and combined, watching closely to prevent scorching.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked egg noodles, shredded chicken, and shredded cheddar cheese. Pour cream cheese sauce over and gently toss until evenly coated.
  6. Crush Ritz crackers using a fork or potato masher. Mix crumbs with melted butter until evenly coated and slightly clumpy.
  7. Transfer noodle and chicken mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Evenly sprinkle Ritz cracker topping over the surface.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly.
  9. Let casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving to set and keep topping crisp.

Notes

[‘Soften cream cheese properly before mixing to avoid clumps.’, ‘Cook noodles al dente to prevent mushy casserole.’, ‘Keep some chunks in crushed Ritz crackers for texture contrast.’, ‘Butter in the topping is essential for browning and flavor.’, ‘Cook chicken while noodles boil to save time.’, ‘Mix sauce in the same skillet used for chicken for added flavor.’, ‘Add extra cheddar cheese in last 5 minutes of baking for cheesier casserole.’, ‘Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated up to 24 hours before baking.’, ‘Freeze casserole before baking for up to 3 months.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken casserole, crispy topping, Ritz crackers, creamy chicken noodle casserole, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/crispy-crack-chicken-noodle-casserole-with-ritz-topping-easy-recipe/