Description
Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and comforting baked dish featuring tender cooked chicken mixed with a rich blend of cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and spices, topped with a buttery crunchy cracker crust and melted cheddar for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked chicken (shredded or chopped)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 3 green onions (thinly sliced, plus extra for garnish)
Topping
- 1 1/2 cups crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make Creamy Mixture: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until fully incorporated.
- Add Main Ingredients: Fold in the cooked chicken, 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions until everything is evenly combined.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, combine crushed buttery crackers with melted butter, mixing until the crackers are evenly moistened by the butter.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the top of the mixture.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the mixture is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with chopped parsley and additional sliced green onions before serving for a fresh finish.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for a smooth, creamy texture that blends well.
- Rotisserie chicken is ideal for great flavor and convenience, but any cooked chicken works.
- Don’t skip the cracker topping; it adds a necessary crunchy contrast to the creamy filling.
- Bake until the edges are actively bubbling and the topping is golden for perfectly heated casserole.
- To make ahead, assemble casserole without the topping and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the cracker topping before baking.
- Freezing tip: Freeze the assembled casserole before baking (without topping). Thaw overnight in the fridge, add the topping, and bake as directed for best texture.
- Optional additions like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in without thinning the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 730 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
