This is our most popular chicken recipe of 2024

Don’t let the year end before you try it.

Creamy, crunchy, and cheesy, it’s no wonder the Million Dollar Chicken Casserole won our readers’ hearts this year. This ultra-comforting dish comes together in less than an hour and packs big flavor beyond the sum of its pantry staple ingredients. To create the recipe, our test kitchen combined the best parts of several popular chicken stews to create the best version ever, living up to the “million dollar” name. We think you’ll agree that it deserves this title.

Million Dollar Chicken Casserole Recipe

What’s in a million dollar chicken casserole?

Dairy products (a lot)

Cream cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream may seem like overkill when it comes to dairy, but each serves a different purpose. Cream cheese makes the sauce thick, cottage cheese adds tang, and sour cream makes it silky.

Herbs and spices

Onion and garlic powder give this dish its savory flavor, while fresh thyme, parsley, and scallions add a welcome touch of brightness.

Chicken

Shredded rotisserie chicken, a weeknight workhorse, is the main protein in the casserole, but we also added cream of chicken to make it even creamier.

Cracker topping

Finally, a buttered layer of crushed Ritz crackers (with thyme) makes the perfect crunchy topping.

Related: 42 Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes Your Family Will Love

What reviewers say

Home cooks have raved about this dish and shared their own substitutions and versions, proving the versatility of this casserole.

• “It was delicious!” I removed the green onions because I can’t have onions, added Lawrys and shredded cheese and served on biscuits. It was delicious and my mother was delighted with it!”

• “I adore. I served it over wide egg noodles…yum We used buttery garlic Ritz crackers. Again, yum Served with a side salad and Pillsbury Cheddar Garlic Biscuits (blend). It was a hit for our family and no leftovers! »

• “I followed this recipe to the letter and wow! It’s incredible! I served broccoli as a side. Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us…Delicious!”

• “Make it as the recipe called for, except I didn’t have any green onions and added mushrooms. It took over 10 minutes to prepare, so be prepared. The flavor was amazing! Just what It needs seasoning. My husband said it could be added to our “to do” list. Thanks!”

Related: 54 Vintage Casseroles Worth Celebrating