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Creamy Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe with Crispy Bacon Crust Easy and Best

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A creamy, comforting chicken casserole topped with a crispy bacon crust, perfect for easy weeknight dinners or cozy meals. This recipe combines tender chicken, a rich cream cheese sauce, and a crunchy bacon-cheddar topping for a crowd-pleasing dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped (rotisserie chicken works great)
  • 1 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 10 slices bacon, thick-cut, cooked until crispy and crumbled
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers (or panko for lighter texture)
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Cook the bacon in a cold skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crispy (about 8-10 minutes). Transfer to paper towels to drain and crumble once cooled. Save about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease if desired.
  3. In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and mayonnaise. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
  4. Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to the mixture. Stir in reserved bacon grease if using.
  5. Fold in the shredded cooked chicken until fully coated.
  6. Spread the chicken mixture evenly in a prepared 9×13-inch baking dish and smooth the top.
  7. In a separate bowl, mix crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed Ritz crackers, and melted butter until crumbs are evenly coated.
  8. Sprinkle the bacon and cheese topping evenly over the chicken base, pressing lightly to adhere.
  9. Bake the casserole for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly.
  10. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to set.

Notes

Soften cream cheese before mixing to avoid lumps. Cook bacon slowly over medium heat for perfect crispiness. Save some bacon grease for extra smoky flavor in the chicken mixture. If topping browns too fast, tent with foil. Let casserole rest before serving for easier slicing. For gluten-free, swap crackers and use gluten-free soup. For dairy-free, use plant-based cream cheese, sour cream, vegan cheese, and coconut oil instead of butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken casserole, creamy chicken casserole, bacon crust, comfort food, easy dinner, weeknight meal, creamy chicken, cheesy casserole

Find it online: https://evabake.com/creamy-million-dollar-chicken-casserole-recipe-with-crispy-bacon-crust-easy-and-best/