Chicken Casserole
Why are chicken casseroles so comforting? From the tender chicken and other filling ingredients to the creamy “gravy”, these meal-in one dishes are filling, soothing, and easy to make. Chances are, if you asked people to describe a traditional chicken casserole, you’d get as many answers as there are grandmas in aprons! There are chicken casserole recipes to suit many tastes and textures.
With the invention of condensed cream soups, soup-based casseroles became a popular way to use on-hand ingredients to make a one-pot dinner. Practically any meat or veggie, and other ingredients could be stirred into the concentrated soup and baked into a casserole. These basic recipes were enhanced by adding toppings that added a layer of cheesiness or crunch from fried onions or crumbled crackers.
Our easy chicken casserole recipe is perfect for getting a comforting meal on the table fast, making it ideal for any night of the week. With just 5 ingredients you likely already have, it’s a breeze to whip up when you’re short on time or energy. It’s also a great way to use up leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken—just shred it with two forks and you’re good to go. It’s the ultimate simple-yet-satisfying traditional chicken casserole with cheddar cheesy goodness and a crunchy layer of buttery crispy panko crumbs. This creamy-dreamy chicken will have your taste buds thanking us!
How To Make Chicken Casserole
Look at how simple it is to get our simple chicken casserole ready for the oven in just 10-minutes. Follow the recipe for the complete directions:
Place Chicken in Casserole
Using either shredded or chopped cooked chicken, place it evenly in the bottom of an ungreased 3-quart casserole dish. The dish can be either rectangular shape or round—whatever you have in your kitchen that will hold 3 quarts.
Spoon Soup Over Chicken
Dollop it right from the can by spoonfuls over the chicken. Use the back of the spoon to spread it evenly.
Sprinkle with Cheese
Sprinkle it evenly over the soup.
Make the Panko Topping
Mix the crispy panko bread crumbs with melted butter and sprinkle it evenly over the cheese.
Bake
The casserole is baked until you see these doneness cues: the cheese is melted, the crumb topping is golden brown, and it is hot in the center of the casserole. Let it stand for 10 minutes so that the casserole has a chance to set up slightly, for nicer-looking servings.
Variations of Chicken Casserole
What’s the best chicken casserole you can make? One that’s made with what you already have on hand, so there’s no reason to make a trip to the store. Try any of these ideas to make it your own:
Swap the Soup: Try another flavor of condensed soup, such as cream of mushroom, reduced sodium cream of chicken soup, or cream of celery.
Let’s Talk Turkey: This recipe would be a fantastic one to use up those leftover holiday turkey leftovers! Swap in 3 cups chopped cooked turkey for the chicken.
Add Veggies: Leftover cooked veggies such as broccoli florets, green beans, or mixed veggies can be added to bulk up your veggie intake and add some color to a home-style casserole. Coated with all that cheesy, chicken goodness, even picky eaters will these veggies.
Swap the Cheese: Rather than use shredded cheddar cheese, try Mexican cheese blends, Colby-Jack, or Swiss cheese instead.
Change the Topping: Instead of using the buttery panko crumb topping, try crushed crackers, potato chips, croutons, or fried onions.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftovers promptly after serving. They shouldn’t be out of the oven for any longer than 2 hours, to keep them food safe for eating. Use an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator no longer than 4 days. To reheat (for the best texture of the topping), place in an oven-safe dish and bake uncovered at 350°F about 15 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reaches 165°F. Or, for faster reheating (but the topping won’t be as crisp), place a serving on a microwavable plate. Cover loosely and microwave on medium-high (70%) for about 1 minute or until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watch Video
Chicken Casserole
- Prep Time 10 min
- Total 45 min
- Servings 8
- Ingredients 5
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz)
- 3 cups Progresso™ plain panko crispy bread crumbs
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
![](/-/media/GMI/Core-Sites/BC/Images/Shared/RecipeParts/make-with/MakeWith_100x100_Progresso_BreadCrumbs.jpg?sc_lang=en)
Instructions
-
Step1Heat oven to 350°F.
-
Step2Evenly place chicken in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish.
-
Step3Spoon and evenly spread soup over chicken.
-
Step4Evenly sprinkle cheese over soup.
-
Step5In a medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and butter until well mixed.
-
Step6Evenly sprinkle bread crumb mixture over cheese.
-
Step7Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the cheese is melted, the bread crumbs are golden brown and the casserole is heated through.
-
Step8Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories
- 520
- Calories from Fat
- 260
- Total Fat
- 29g
- 45%
- Saturated Fat
- 14g
- 68%
- Trans Fat
- 1g
- Cholesterol
- 105mg
- 34%
- Sodium
- 1060mg
- 44%
- Potassium
- 170mg
- 5%
- Total Carbohydrate
- 37g
- 12%
- Dietary Fiber
- 0g
- 0%
- Sugars
- 2g
- Protein
- 27g
% Daily Value*:
- Vitamin A
- 15%
- 15%
- Vitamin C
- 0%
- 0%
- Calcium
- 20%
- 20%
- Iron
- 8%
- 8%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens
- tip 1
- tip 2