Description

This Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked dish featuring tender cooked chicken mixed with cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and a blend of spices. Topped with a buttery cracker and almond crust, it bakes until golden and bubbly, delivering a perfect balance of creamy and crunchy textures. Ideal for comfort food lovers, this casserole is both easy to prepare and pleasing to the palate.

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)

Garnish

2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare the baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Make the creamy mixture: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper for flavor.
Combine main ingredients: Fold in the cooked chicken, 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, slivered almonds, and thinly sliced green onions. Mix until everything is evenly combined.
Prepare topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed buttery crackers with the melted butter until the crackers are evenly moistened and can form a crunchy topping.
Assemble casserole: Spread the creamy chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the top.
Bake the casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Add remaining cheese and finish baking: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top, and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Garnish and serve: Once out of the oven, garnish with chopped parsley and extra sliced green onions for color and freshness before serving.

Notes

Use softened cream cheese for smooth blending and a creamy texture.
Rotisserie chicken adds great flavor and saves time, but any cooked chicken works well.
Don't skip the cracker topping to provide a necessary crunchy contrast to the creamy filling; Ritz-style crackers are recommended.
Bake until the edges are bubbly and the topping is golden for perfectly heated casserole center.
To make ahead: assemble without the topping, refrigerate up to 24 hours, then add crackers and bake.
For freezing: freeze the casserole before baking, thaw overnight, add topping, and bake as directed.
Optional add-ins such as peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in without watering down the sauce.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 430 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 730 mg
Fat: 32 g
Saturated Fat: 14 g
Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 15 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 24 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg