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A traditional chicken casserole is total comfort food! Whether you’re looking for an easy weeknight dinner, bringing a meal to a friend in need, or trying to use up that leftover rotisserie chicken in the fridge, you’re sure to find a new favorite in this convenient collection of more than 50 of The Best Chicken Casserole Recipes! From quick and easy options with few ingredients, to dishes with noodles, others with rice, and those that are healthy…they’re all here!
Casseroles are some of the most popular American dishes for many reasons. They’re convenient dinners that often include meat, veggies, and rice or pasta in a single pan; they’re typically make-ahead, freezer-friendly options; and they can be easily adapted to suit individual taste preferences. Whether you’re reaching for shortcuts like canned cream of mushroom soup, or you’re opting for wholesome, made-from-scratch meals, there’s a chicken casserole recipe for you!
In this roundup, I’ve included a variety of options, so scroll down to find exactly what you need. You can choose between:
Easy Recipes with Few Ingredients
Chicken Casserole Recipes with Pasta
Chicken and Rice Casseroles
Healthy Chicken Casseroles
Chicken Casserole Recipes with Stuffing
Leftover Rotisserie Chicken Casseroles
The 5 Components of a Casserole
In general, a “casserole” is any food that is cooked and served in the same dish. Most traditional chicken casserole recipes will include each of these 5 components:
Protein: in this case, the chicken.
Extender: often a grain, such as rice or noodles, that helps to thicken the dish.
Binder: a sauce or liquid that holds the ingredients together, such as condensed soup, a bechamel sauce, salsa, or marinara sauce.
Vegetables: not all casseroles include veggies, but most do!
Topping: a cheesy topping is common, but crunchy additions like Ritz cracker crumbs, buttered breadcrumbs, or crushed potato chips are also very popular on old-fashioned recipes.
How to Cook Chicken for a Casserole
While it’s possible to cook a casserole with raw chicken, you’ll need cookedchicken for most recipes, and a variety of options will work. Pick the most convenient method for you:
Boiled and Pulled Chicken: Boil boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs until cooked through (about 15 minutes). When cool enough to handle, chop or pull the chicken. I find that 1 lb. of chicken breasts or thighs typically yields about 2 cups of pulled or chopped meat, so adjust the quantity based on the amount called for in your recipe.
Rotisserie Chicken: This is a great shortcut! Purchase a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, shred the meat, and use in the recipe as instructed. A large rotisserie chicken will yield 3-4 cups of meat, while smaller chickens may only provide about 2 cups of meat.
Leftover Chicken: If you have leftover grilled or baked chicken from a previous meal, put those extras to good use in a casserole.
Canned Chicken: Yep, even canned chicken from the pantry will work in most of these recipes.
Why is my chicken casserole dry?
If your casserole is dry, it’s likely because the meat is overcooked, there wasn’t enough sauce in the recipe, or the dish should have been covered while it was baking in the oven.
Do you bake chicken casserole covered or uncovered?
It depends! Some recipes suggest that you cover the dish for most (or all) of the baking time, removing the cover during the final few minutes to let the topping brown. Other recipes bake entirely uncovered. Be sure to check the specific recipe directions so that you don’t end up with a dry casserole or a runny casserole in the end!
Does chicken casserole freeze well?
Most chicken casseroles are very freezer-friendly. If the recipe includes a made-from-scratch cream sauce, however, it’s best to avoid freezing that dish. This is because dairy-based sauces tend to “break” or separate when thawed, giving the dish an undesirable texture.
It’s also important to note that the quality of rice and pasta in a casserole may not be quite as good after freezing. The noodles and the rice tend to get a bit mushy and gummy once thawed.
Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes with Few Ingredients
Let’s start with some of the easiest dinners you’ll ever make! These chicken casserole recipes require just a handful of simple ingredients, don’t involve made-from-scratch sauces, and often utilize the dump-and-bake method with minimal prep work!
You don't even have to boil the pasta or pre-cook the chicken! For a quick and easy dinner recipe with just 5 minutes of prep, you can't beat a Dump-and-Bake Chicken Mushroom Casserole!Â
This dump-and-bake chicken and broccoli casserole is the easiest dinner casserole. Tender pasta cooked in a creamy sauce with chicken, broccoli, and a crunchy stuffing topping.
A 10-minute crowd-pleaser, this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy dinner recipe for your busiest weeknights — and you don’t even have to boil the pasta!
You don’t even have to boil the pasta for this nutritious and cozy Dump-and-Bake Chicken Noodle Casserole! All of the ingredients cook together in one dish for a simple comfort food dinner on a cool evening!
Sometimes you just crave down-home comfort food, and this Dump-and-Bake Southern Chicken Casserole does not disappoint! It’s an easy dinner that comes together in about 10 minutes, for a simple and satisfying one pot meal that the whole family can enjoy.
These creamy Chicken Stuffed Shells with spinach, Alfredo, and cheese are a cozy, satisfying, family-friendly dinner that you can make ahead for busy days!
This easy Chicken Cordon Bleu casserole recipe is the perfect way to use up leftover ham and chicken! A creamy pasta casserole with ham and chicken, topped with cheese and buttery breadcrumbs.
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup
This easy Chicken and Rice Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup and shredded rotisserie chicken is a simple, delicious, and comforting dinner that you can make ahead.
This cheesy chicken and broccoli rice is comfort food at it's finest! Chicken, broccoli, and rice are baked in a cheesy, creamy sauce and topped with buttery Ritz crackers.
You don’t even have to boil the pasta for this quick and healthy Dump-and-Bake Chicken Caprese Pasta! With only 5 minutes of prep, the easy, family-friendly recipe is a fresh and fast way to get dinner on the table!
This Dump-and-Bake Chicken and Zucchini Noodles Recipe is an easy casserole that gives you all of the cozy comfort that you crave in a high-protein, grain-free, and low-calorie dish!
Does it get any cozier than chicken and stuffing? These casseroles take advantage of store-bought stuffing mix to add flavor and comfort in every bite.
Store-bought rotisserie chicken is such a convenient shortcut when assembling a casserole. Here are some easy recipes to take advantage of your leftovers:
A farmhouse favorite! This old-fashioned Chicken Pot Pie recipe is made from scratch with a flaky, buttery, double crust and a creamy chicken and vegetable filling.
A farmhouse favorite! This old-fashioned chicken pot pie with puff pastry has a flaky, golden brown crust and a creamy chicken and vegetable filling.
I hope that this helps you to find a few new chicken casserole recipes to try in your own kitchen. I’d love to hear about your favorites in the comments below, too!
Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!
I just love having these casserole recipes categorized the way they are; makes for easy navigation to find a recipe suitable with ingredients on hand. Thank you!
I just love having these casserole recipes categorized the way they are; makes for easy navigation to find a recipe suitable with ingredients on hand. Thank you!
So glad to hear that, Michele. Thank you!