Description
Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked dish featuring shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and a buttery cracker topping. This comforting casserole is perfect for family dinners or potlucks, combining tender chicken with a rich, savory filling and a crispy, golden crust.
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.
- Prepare Creamy Mixture: In a large bowl, beat together softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
- Combine Main Ingredients: Fold in cooked chicken, 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions evenly into the creamy mixture.
- Make Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, mix crushed buttery crackers with melted butter until the crumbs are evenly moistened.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping uniformly over the top.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake for 30 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top, and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley and extra sliced green onions before serving for added freshness and color.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese for a smooth and creamy texture in the casserole filling.
- Rotisserie chicken works best for flavor and convenience, but any cooked chicken works.
- Don’t skip the cracker topping for a crunchy contrast to the creamy filling; Ritz-style crackers provide the best buttery finish.
- Bake until bubbly and the edges are actively bubbling and golden for perfect doneness.
- To make ahead: Assemble without the cracker topping, refrigerate up to 24 hours, then add topping before baking.
- Freezing tip: Freeze the casserole before baking for best texture; thaw overnight before adding the cracker topping and baking as directed.
- Optional add-ins like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in without watering down the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 630 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
