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Ritz Chicken Rice Casserole is a family favorite dish.

This Ritz Chicken and Rice Casserole is creamy, comforting, and crowned with a buttery Ritz cracker crunch that’s downright irresistible. It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing dish that comes together fast using pantry staples and rotisserie chicken—perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Casserole Base:

  • 3 cups cooked, cubed chicken

  • 1 (6.9 oz) box Chicken Rice-A-Roni, prepared according to package directions

  • 1 cup sour cream

  • 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Topping:

  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.

  2. Prepare the rice: Cook the Chicken Rice-A-Roni as directed on the box. Set aside.

  3. Make the filling: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Stir in the cooked chicken and prepared rice.

  4. Assemble the casserole: Spread the chicken and rice mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.

  5. Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and crushed Ritz crackers. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the casserole.

  6. Bake: Bake for 25 minutes, then broil for 2–3 minutes until the top is golden and crispy.

  7. Serve: Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy the creamy filling with a crunchy topping in every bite.

Notes

  • Time-saver tip: Use rotisserie chicken to cut down on prep time.

  • Rice swap: You can use plain cooked rice with added seasoning if you don’t have Rice-A-Roni.

  • Make it ahead: Assemble the casserole in advance, refrigerate, and bake when ready (add 5–10 extra minutes of bake time).

  • Freezer-friendly: This dish freezes well—just thaw overnight and bake as usual.