Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Printable)

Juicy chicken and sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy sauce topped with buttery cracker crumbs.

# 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 oz 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)

# How-To Steps:

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 another minute.
03 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and spinach; cook until spinach wilts, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat and add softened cream cheese, stirring continuously until melted and smooth.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Stir in Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, kosher salt, and black pepper. Simmer gently for 2 minutes.
06 - Add shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan, stirring until cheeses melt and sauce becomes creamy.
07 - Fold cooked chicken into the sauce mixture until evenly coated. Remove from heat.
08 - Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
09 - Mix Ritz cracker crumbs with melted butter until evenly combined. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the casserole surface.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
11 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It tastes like the kind of comfort food that makes people linger at the table long after their plates are empty.
  • You can assemble it hours ahead and pop it in the oven when company arrives, no last minute panic required.
  • The buttery cracker topping adds a satisfying crunch that balances the creamy richness underneath.
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully and somehow taste even better the next day when the flavors have melded together.
02 -
  • Make sure your cream cheese is fully softened before you add it or you'll end up with stubborn lumps floating in your sauce.
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking, the casserole will be lava-hot and the sauce needs a moment to pull itself together.
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything but the cracker topping, refrigerate, then add the buttery crackers right before baking so they stay crisp.
03 -
  • Use kitchen shears to chop the sun-dried tomatoes right in the jar, it's faster and keeps your cutting board clean.
  • Crush the Ritz crackers inside a sealed zip-top bag with a rolling pin for perfectly even crumbs and zero mess.
  • If the sauce looks too thick before baking, whisk in a splash more broth, it will tighten up as it bakes.
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