Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Printable)

Creamy chicken and sun-dried tomatoes baked under a buttery cracker topping for a comforting main dish.

# What you need:

→ Chicken

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed (rotisserie or poached)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
03 - 2 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dairy

06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

→ Pantry

11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
14 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Topping

16 - 1½ cups Ritz cracker crumbs (about 1 sleeve, crushed)
17 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
03 - Add sun-dried tomatoes and chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat to low, stir in softened cream cheese until melted and smooth.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Season with Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, kosher salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 2 minutes.
06 - Stir shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan into the sauce until fully melted and creamy.
07 - Fold cooked chicken into the sauce until evenly coated. Remove skillet from heat.
08 - Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
09 - Combine Ritz cracker crumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole surface.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until hot, bubbly, and topping is golden brown.
11 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but comes together in under an hour, perfect for those nights when you want comfort without the fuss.
  • The buttery Ritz topping adds a nostalgic crunch that makes everyone at the table smile and ask for seconds.
  • You can prep it the night before and just pop it in the oven when company arrives, which has saved me more times than I can count.
02 -
  • Don't skip softening the cream cheese or it'll leave lumps in your sauce, I learned this the hard way on a dinner party night.
  • If your sauce looks too thick, add a splash more broth before baking, it thickens up in the oven and you want it to stay saucy.
03 -
  • Use a skillet that can go from stovetop to oven if you want to skip a dish, just make sure the handle is oven-safe and add the topping right in the pan.
  • If you're using jarred sun-dried tomatoes in oil, pat them dry with a paper towel first or your sauce will separate and get greasy.
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