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Chicken Casserole

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  • Prep Time 10 min
  • Total 45 min
  • Servings 8
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Why are chicken casseroles so comforting? From the tender chicken and other filling ingredients to the creamy “gravy”, these meal-in one dishes are filling, soothing, and easy to make. Chances are, if you asked people to describe a traditional chicken casserole, you’d get as many answers as there are grandmas in aprons! There are chicken casserole recipes to suit many tastes and textures.

With the invention of condensed cream soups, soup-based casseroles became a popular way to use on-hand ingredients to make a one-pot dinner. Practically any meat or veggie, and other ingredients could be stirred into the concentrated soup and baked into a casserole. These basic recipes were enhanced by adding toppings that added a layer of cheesiness or crunch from fried onions or crumbled crackers.

Our easy chicken casserole recipe is perfect for getting a comforting meal on the table fast, making it ideal for any night of the week. With just 5 ingredients you likely already have, it’s a breeze to whip up when you’re short on time or energy. It’s also a great way to use up leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken—just shred it with two forks and you’re good to go. It’s the ultimate simple-yet-satisfying traditional chicken casserole with cheddar cheesy goodness and a crunchy layer of buttery crispy panko crumbs. This creamy-dreamy chicken will have your taste buds thanking us!

By Jessica Walker
Updated Sep 17, 2024
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How To Make Chicken Casserole

Look at how simple it is to get our simple chicken casserole ready for the oven in just 10-minutes. Follow the recipe for the complete directions:

Place Chicken in Casserole

Using either shredded or chopped cooked chicken, place it evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 3-quart casserole dish. The dish can be either rectangular shape or round—whatever you have in your kitchen that will hold 3 quarts.

Spoon Soup Over Chicken

Dollop it right from the can by spoonfuls over the chicken. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly.

Sprinkle with Cheese

Sprinkle it evenly over the soup.

Make the Panko Topping

Mix the crispy panko bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle it evenly over the cheese.

Bake

The casserole is baked until you see these doneness cues: the cheese is melted, the crumb topping is golden brown, and it is hot in the center of the casserole. Let it stand for 10 minutes so that the casserole has a chance to set up slightly, for nicer-looking servings.

Variations of Chicken Casserole

What’s the best chicken casserole you can make? One that’s made with what you already have on hand, so there’s no reason to make a trip to the store. Try any of these ideas to make it your own:

Swap the Soup: Try another flavor of condensed soup, such as cream of mushroom, reduced sodium cream of chicken soup, or cream of celery.

Let’s Talk Turkey: This recipe would be a fantastic one to use up those leftover holiday turkey leftovers! Swap in 3 cups chopped cooked turkey for the chicken.

Add Veggies: Leftover cooked veggies such as broccoli florets, green beans, or mixed veggies can be added to bulk up your veggie intake and add some color to a home-style casserole. Coated with all that cheesy, chicken goodness, even picky eaters will these veggies.

Swap the Cheese: Rather than use shredded cheddar cheese, try Mexican cheese blends, Colby-Jack, or Swiss cheese instead.

Change the Topping: Instead of using the buttery panko crumb topping, try crushed crackers, potato chips, croutons, or fried onions.

How to Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers promptly after serving. They shouldn’t be out of the oven for any longer than 2 hours, to keep them food safe for eating. Use an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator no longer than 4 days. To reheat (for the best texture of the topping), place in an oven-safe dish and bake uncovered at 350°F about 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reaches 165°F. Or, for faster reheating (but the topping won’t be as crisp), place a serving on a microwavable plate. Cover loosely and microwave on medium-high (70%) for about 1 minute or until heated through.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken
  • 2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz)
  • 3 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
Make With
Progresso Breadcrumbs

Steps

  •  
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F.
  •  
    2
    Evenly place chicken in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
  •  
    3
    Spoon and evenly spread soup over chicken.
  •  
    4
    Evenly sprinkle cheese over soup.
  •  
    5
    In a medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and butter until well mixed.
  •  
    6
    Evenly sprinkle bread crumb mixture over cheese.
  •  
    7
    Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cheese is melted, the bread crumbs are golden brown and the casserole is heated through.
  •  
    8
    Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    We’d serve Grandma’s Chicken Casserole for a weeknight dinner with a side of green beans or a big green salad with lots of crunchy veggies. This is also a casserole you’re going to want to take to potlucks: you’ll definitely go home with an empty dish!
  • tip 2
    Grandma might not have used panko bread crumbs, but we love the texture they add to this recipe! They crisp up beautifully in the oven, so they’re nice and crunchy on your fork—the perfect contrast to all that creamy-dreamy chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t I Need to Grease the Pan?

The soup and the cheese in this casserole have enough fat to keep the ingredients from sticking to the dish during baking, reducing the steps it takes to get your casserole in the oven.

Can this Chicken Casserole be Made Ahead and Frozen?

It’s so quick and easy to put this recipe together, we recommend making it just before it goes in the oven. The cream soup tends to get watery when frozen and thawed. Also, the crispy crumb topping will have the best texture if it’s added just before baking. You could, however, prepare the casserole through Step 4; cover and refrigerate earlier in the day, to get a jump on dinner. Then just uncover and continue as directed, starting with Step 5. You may need to extend the baking time slightly to ensure the casserole heats through from its chilled state.

What Other Chicken Casserole Recipes Should I Try?

If you’re ready to try other easy chicken casserole recipes, we have oodles of scrumptious recipes that will suit any taste. Try fan favorites such as homey Easy Chicken Pot Pie, elegant-yet-easy Chicken Gloria Casserole or even gluten-free options such as One-Pot Gluten-Free Chicken Tetrazzini.

Nutrition

520 Calories, 29g Total Fat, 27g Protein, 37g Total Carbohydrate, 2g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
520
Calories from Fat
260
Total Fat
29g
45%
Saturated Fat
14g
68%
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
105mg
34%
Sodium
1060mg
44%
Potassium
170mg
5%
Total Carbohydrate
37g
12%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
2g
Protein
27g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
20%
20%
Iron
8%
8%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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