Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Print Version)

Tender chicken and sun-dried tomatoes baked in creamy sauce with a crunchy buttery topping.

# 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 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened

→ Pantry

11 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
12 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
14 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Topping

16 - 1½ cups Ritz cracker crumbs (about 1 sleeve, crushed)
17 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

# How-To Steps:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but comes together in under an hour from start to finish.
  • The buttery cracker topping adds a satisfying crunch that balances the creamy richness underneath.
  • You can assemble it earlier in the day and bake it right before everyone arrives, keeping your stress levels wonderfully low.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking or the sauce will run everywhere when you scoop it, I learned this the messy way.
  • If your sun-dried tomatoes are packed in oil, drain them really well and even blot them with a paper towel or the casserole can get greasy on top.
03 -
  • Use a rotisserie chicken and this becomes a true weeknight savior, you'll spend more time waiting for the oven than prepping.
  • Crush the Ritz crackers by hand in a sealed bag so you get a mix of fine crumbs and bigger pieces, it makes the topping way more interesting.
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