This Chicken and Rice Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping is the ultimate comfort food meal that brings families together. Creamy, savory, and topped with a golden buttery crust, it is a simple “dump and bake” dinner that requires minimal prep.
With tender chicken and fluffy rice soaked in a rich sauce, this casserole delivers nostalgia and flavor in every bite.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A savory, creamy base flavored with chicken broth and soup is perfectly balanced by the rich, buttery, and slightly salty crunch of the Ritz cracker topping.
- Texture: Soft, fluffy rice and tender chicken are enveloped in a velvety sauce, contrasting with the crispy, golden crumb crust.
- Time: 10 minutes prep, 40 minutes bake time.
- Difficulty: Very Easy. It involves mixing ingredients in a bowl and baking.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large bowl for mixing the filling and a 9×13 baking dish. A zip-top bag and rolling pin make crushing the crackers mess-free. The ingredients rely on pantry staples like quick-cooking rice, canned cream soup, and Ritz crackers, paired with cooked chicken and dairy for richness.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Breasts – Use 3 cooked breasts, shredded or cubed (about 4 cups). This is a perfect way to use up rotisserie chicken or leftover roast chicken.
- Minute Rice – It is crucial to use Minute (quick cooking) rice, uncooked. Standard long-grain rice requires more liquid and time and will not cook properly in this recipe.
- Cream of Chicken Soup – This forms the creamy base. You can use two regular cans or one large “family size” can.
- Chicken Broth – Provides the liquid needed to cook the rice and adds savory depth.
- Sour Cream – Adds tang and creaminess to the sauce, preventing it from being too heavy.
- Ritz Crackers – Two sleeves of crushed Ritz crackers create the signature buttery topping.
- Salted Butter – Melted butter mixed with the crackers ensures the topping browns beautifully and tastes rich.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – Stir in a cup of thawed frozen peas, broccoli florets, or mixed veggies to make this a complete one-dish meal.
- Cheese – Mixing in a cup of shredded cheddar cheese with the rice adds a delicious gooey element.
- Soup – Cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup can be substituted if you prefer those flavors.
How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Mix Filling: In a large bowl, mix the cream of chicken soup, cubed chicken breast, uncooked Minute rice, chicken broth, and sour cream together until everything is well incorporated.
- Assemble: Spread the creamy chicken and rice mixture evenly into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Prepare Topping: Pour the Ritz crackers into a zip-top bag. Use a rolling pin to crush them into coarse crumbs. Open the bag, pour in the melted butter, then reclose and shake it around until the cracker crumbs are evenly coated in the butter.
- Top and Bake: Spread the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. Place the dish on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until the crackers are golden brown and the rice is tender.
- Serve: Enjoy hot!
Pro Tip: Don’t crush the crackers into fine dust. Leaving them as coarse crumbs ensures they stay crunchy and don’t turn into a paste on top of the casserole.
Recipe Tips
- Rice Type: Double-check your rice box! It must say “Minute” or “Quick Cooking.” Regular rice will end up crunchy and undercooked with this amount of liquid and time.
- Butter Coating: shaking the butter and crumbs in a bag is the easiest way to coat them without making a mess in a bowl.
- Resting: Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes after baking. This allows the sauce to thicken up slightly so it isn’t too runny when you scoop it.
FAQs
- Can I use raw chicken? No, this recipe is designed for cooked chicken. Raw chicken releases juices that would water down the casserole and might not cook through in the same time as the rice.
- Can I freeze this? Yes, you can freeze the casserole before baking (without the cracker topping). Thaw in the fridge overnight, add fresh cracker topping, and bake.
- Is this spicy? No, it is a very mild, kid-friendly dish. You can add black pepper or poultry seasoning if you want more flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- Green Beans: A side of steamed green beans or asparagus pairs perfectly.
- Salad: A fresh garden salad cuts through the richness of the creamy casserole.
- Rolls: Serve with soft dinner rolls for an extra comforting meal.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Assembly: You can mix the chicken and rice filling a few hours ahead and keep it in the fridge.
- Topping: Wait to add the cracker topping until just before you put the dish in the oven to ensure it stays crisp.
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x
Description
This Chicken and Rice Casserole with Ritz Cracker Topping is the ultimate comfort food meal that brings families together. Creamy, savory, and topped with a golden buttery crust, it is a simple “dump and bake” dinner that requires minimal prep. With tender chicken and fluffy rice soaked in a rich sauce, this casserole delivers nostalgia and flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
The Casserole Base
- 3 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cubed (approx. 4 cups)
- 2 cups Minute Rice or quick-cooking rice, uncooked
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) Cream of Chicken Soup (or 1 large family-size can)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
The Buttery Topping
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers, crushed
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted (1 stick)
Instructions
Prep
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix Filling
In a large bowl, combine the Cream of Chicken soup, cubed cooked chicken, uncooked Minute rice, chicken broth, and sour cream. Stir: Mix until everything is well incorporated and the soup is dissolved into the broth.
Assemble
Pour the creamy chicken and rice mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
Prepare Topping
Place the Ritz crackers into a zip-top bag. Crush: Use a rolling pin or your hands to crush them into coarse crumbs (avoid making fine dust). Coat: Open the bag, pour in the melted butter, reclose, and shake/massage the bag until the crumbs are evenly coated and look like wet sand.
Top
Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the entire top of the casserole.
Bake
Place on the middle rack of the oven. Cook: Bake for 40 minutes, or until the crackers are golden brown and the rice is tender.
Serve
Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before scooping (this helps the sauce set). Serve hot.
Notes
Rice Warning: You must use Minute Rice (Instant/Quick Cooking) for this recipe. Regular long-grain raw rice requires more liquid and a longer cooking time; if you use it here, it will turn out crunchy and undercooked.
Cooked Chicken Only: Do not use raw chicken. It releases too much moisture and poses a safety risk with this cooking time. This is the perfect recipe for leftover rotisserie chicken.
Crumb Texture: Don’t crush the crackers into a powder. Keeping them as coarse crumbs ensures a crunchy, golden topping rather than a paste.
Make it a Meal: You can stir in 1 cup of thawed frozen peas or mixed vegetables into the filling step to add nutrition and color without changing the cooking time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Casserole
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of Recipe
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken and rice casserole, ritz cracker chicken, creamy chicken casserole, comfort food dinner, rotisserie chicken recipes, dump and bake meals, minute rice recipes
