Description
Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a creamy, cheesy comfort food classic featuring shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, and a crispy buttery cracker topping. This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for family dinners and delivers a luscious, savory flavor with delightful crunchy texture contrast.
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)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix the Creamy Base: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
- Fold in Main Ingredients: Add the cooked chicken, 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions. Fold gently until everything is evenly combined without breaking up the chicken too much.
- Prepare the Topping: In a small bowl, mix the crushed buttery crackers with the melted butter until the cracker crumbs are evenly moistened and coated.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the surface of the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and the cracker topping is golden brown.
- Finish Baking with Cheese: Remove the casserole from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese on top, and return it to the oven for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped parsley and extra sliced green onions for a fresh, vibrant finish. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use softened cream cheese to ensure a smooth, creamy texture.
- Rotisserie chicken works best for time-saving and flavor, but any cooked chicken can be used.
- Don’t skip the cracker topping; it adds a necessary crunchy contrast to the creamy filling.
- Bake until the edges are bubbling and the topping is golden for a perfectly cooked casserole.
- To make ahead, assemble without the cracker topping and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add topping before baking.
- For freezing, freeze the assembled casserole before baking. Thaw overnight, add topping, and bake as usual for best texture.
- Optional add-ins like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in to add extra veggies without diluting the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
