Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Printable Version)

Creamy chicken casserole with sun-dried tomatoes and a crispy buttery crumb topping.

# What You'll 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, for garnish)

# 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. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
03 - Add sun-dried tomatoes and chopped spinach to the skillet. Cook until spinach wilts, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat, then add softened cream cheese. Stir continuously until fully melted and smooth.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Season with Italian herbs, optional red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 2 minutes.
06 - Stir shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan into the sauce until melted and creamy.
07 - Add cooked chicken to the sauce, stirring to coat evenly. Remove from heat.
08 - Transfer the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
09 - In a separate bowl, combine Ritz cracker crumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
11 - Allow casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a true make-ahead dream—prep it the night before and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive.
  • One-dish elegance that actually tastes better than it looks, which is saying something for a casserole.
  • The Ritz topping gives you that textural contrast your mouth didn't know it was craving.
02 -
  • Don't let the sauce simmer too long after adding cream cheese or it can break and turn grainy—quick and gentle is the move.
  • Ritz crackers vary in density depending on the brand, so if your topping looks too dry after mixing with butter, add a tablespoon more melted butter.
03 -
  • Buy pre-shredded chicken from the deli counter if you're short on time—it's a legitimate shortcut that no one has to know about.
  • Toast your Ritz crumbs in a dry skillet for just a minute before mixing with butter to deepen their flavor and prevent sogginess.
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