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