Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Printable View)

Creamy chicken paired with sun-dried tomatoes and a buttery cracker crumb topping for an easy main dish.

# 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 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened

→ Pantry

11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
14 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Topping

16 - 1 1/2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs (about 1 sleeve, crushed)
17 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How To Make It:

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 onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
03 - Add sun-dried tomatoes and spinach; cook until spinach wilts, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat, add cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Season with Italian herbs, crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes.
06 - Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until melted and sauce is creamy.
07 - Add cooked chicken, stirring to evenly coat. Remove from heat.
08 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
09 - Combine Ritz cracker crumbs with melted butter in a bowl; sprinkle evenly over casserole.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until hot, bubbly, and topping is golden brown.
11 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than takeout, but tastes like you've been cooking all day.
  • You can make it ahead and bake it when guests arrive—zero stress hosting.
  • The crispy Ritz topping is addictive and turns a simple casserole into something people actually want seconds of.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rest time after baking—five minutes lets everything set and makes serving cleaner.
  • If your sauce seems thin before baking, that's okay; it will reduce and concentrate in the oven.
03 -
  • Use a kitchen thermometer to check that everything reaches at least 165°F if you're using uncooked chicken or want to be extra cautious.
  • Letting the casserole rest before serving prevents that frustrating slide-apart moment and gives everything time to bind together.
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