This ultimate chicken casserole recipe is loaded with deliciousness. From the juicy shredded chicken to the crispy bacon, tender noodles, creamy sauce, and crunchy fried onions, every part is delicious!
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The Best Ultimate Chicken Casserole
This recipe transforms simple ingredients into the ultimate creamy chicken noodle casserole recipe.
It has shredded chicken tossed in a decadent cream sauce along with al dente pasta noodles, savory bacon, and corn. The casserole is finished with melted shredded cheddar cheese mixed throughout and crispy fried onions on top.
The result is a warm, comforting chicken noodle casserole that's super creamy in the middle and crispy golden brown on top.
Not only is this casserole loaded with flavor, but it's also a quick and easy dinner recipe. So it's perfect for those hectic weeknights when you need something simple that's sure to leave everyone at the table satisfied.
This ultimate chicken casserole works great all by itself, but if you really want the meal to impress, you can serve it with this Cheesecake Factory brown bread to soak up the creamy homemade sauce.
Why This Recipe Works
Simple to make. After you cook a few ingredients, all you have to do is combine everything in a bowl and then let the oven take care of the rest. It's effortless!
The flavor. From the juicy chicken to the crisp bacon, creamy sauce, melted cheese, and French fried onions, there are a lot of elements to love about this easy chicken casserole recipe.
Everyone always loves it. This is one of those recipes that will have the picky eaters going in for seconds! So you'll have a dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients
Another reason to love this ultimate chicken noodle casserole recipe is it's made with really basic ingredients, and those ingredients are:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 12oz. rigatoni cooked to al dente
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups cream of chicken soup
- ½ onion diced
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 cup French fried onions
You can use quite a few of these ingredients to make this old fashioned chicken and noodles, so definitely consider giving that recipe a try next!
How To Make Ultimate Chicken Casserole
1. Prep work: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Combine the ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and cream of chicken soup. Then stir in the shredded chicken breast, cooked pasta, corn, onion, garlic, bacon, shredded cheese, salt and pepper.
3. Assemble the casserole: Spread this chicken soup mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish and top it with the French fried onions.
4. Bake and serve: Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, serve warm, and enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Mix all ingredients in the prepared pan, so you have one less dish to wash.
- Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup to add a different flavor.
- Substitute shredded rotisserie chicken or canned chicken for the cooked chicken for a more convenient casserole dish.
- Switch up the noodles. Use cooked egg noodles, wide egg noodles, spaghetti, or cheese tortellini for a different flavor and texture.
- Add more veggies, like chopped broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers for a healthier casserole. You can also add a bag of frozen vegetables to the sauce mixture for a little variety.
- Substitute the French fried onions for panko bread crumbs or crushed potato chips for a different texture.
- Garnish the casserole with chopped fresh parsley or green onions for a pop of color.
How To Store Ultimate Chicken Casserole
In the fridge: Put a lid on the baking dish or transfer the leftover chicken casserole to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
In the freezer: Allow the leftover chicken noodle casserole to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for about 6 months.
Reheating: Transfer the chicken casserole back to a baking dish and warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until it's warmed through. You can also microwave single servings of leftovers in 20-second intervals until it reaches your desired temperature. Let the frozen casserole thaw in the fridge overnight or add more baking time.
More Casserole Recipes
- Ham casserole
- Amish chicken casserole
- Poppy seed chicken casserole
- Teriyaki chicken casserole
- Bacon cheeseburger casserole
- Chicken cauliflower casserole
Ultimate Chicken Casserole
This ultimate chicken casserole recipe is loaded with deliciousness. From the juicy shredded chicken to the crispy bacon, tender noodles, creamy sauce, and crunchy fried onions, every part is delicious!
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 12oz. rigatoni or egg noodles cooked to al dente
- 1 ½ cups frozen corn
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups (16oz.) cream of chicken soup
- ½ onion diced
- 1 tbsp. minced garlic
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 cup French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180ºC) and spray a 9X13 baking dish with a non-stick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and cream of chicken soup. Then stir in the chicken, pasta, corn, onion, garlic, bacon, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper.
- Spread this mixture evenly into the baking dish and top the mixture with the French fried onions.
- Bake for 30 minutes and serve warm.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 592Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 1046mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 4gSugar: 0gProtein: 38g
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