Description

This creamy and comforting Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole features a rich blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise combined with tender cooked chicken and melty cheeses, topped with a buttery, crunchy cracker and almond crust. It's a timeless crowd-pleaser that's easy to prepare and bakes to golden perfection, making it perfect for family dinners or potlucks.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken Mixture

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)

Cracker Topping

1 1/2 cups crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
4 tablespoons butter (melted)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
Make Creamy Base: In a large bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise until smooth and creamy. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until evenly mixed.
Add Chicken and Cheeses: Fold in the cooked chicken, 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions gently until the mixture is well combined.
Prepare Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed buttery crackers with melted butter. Mix until the crackers are evenly moistened with butter, forming the topping.
Assemble Casserole: Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the buttery cracker topping evenly over the chicken mixture to cover the surface.
Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
Add Remaining Cheese and Finish Baking: Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley and extra sliced green onions as desired. Serve warm.

Notes

Use softened cream cheese for a smooth, creamy texture in the casserole base.
Rotisserie chicken provides great flavor and convenience, but any cooked chicken works well.
The cracker topping adds essential crunch and buttery flavor; Ritz-style crackers are preferred.
Ensure the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden to confirm it's fully cooked.
To prepare ahead, assemble the casserole without the topping, refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then add the topping and bake.
For freezing, assemble before baking, freeze, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then add the topping and bake as directed.
Optional add-ins like peas, mushrooms, or steamed broccoli can be folded in without making the casserole watery.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 450 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 750 mg
Fat: 36 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 12 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg