Marry Me Chicken Casserole (Print View)

Creamy chicken baked with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a buttery cracker topping.

# Components:

→ Chicken

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

→ 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 - 113 grams 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)

# Directions:

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 diced onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
03 - Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and spinach; cook until spinach wilts, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat. Add cream cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Season with Italian herbs, red pepper flakes if using, kosher salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes.
06 - Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses until fully melted and sauce is creamy.
07 - Fold in cooked chicken, ensuring even coating. Remove skillet from heat.
08 - Transfer mixture evenly to prepared baking dish.
09 - Combine Ritz cracker crumbs with melted butter; sprinkle mixture evenly over the casserole.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until heated through, bubbly, and topping is golden brown.
11 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, yet tastes like you fussed for half the day.
  • The creamy sauce clings to every piece of chicken, and those sun-dried tomatoes add a subtle tang that keeps it from feeling one-note.
  • You can prep it the night before and bake it fresh, which means less thinking on busy days.
  • It feeds six people generously, making it perfect for family dinners or potlucks where you want genuine compliments.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the sun-dried tomatoes thoroughly, or they'll release liquid that thins the sauce just when you don't want it to.
  • If your sauce seems thin, it's probably not yet at a simmer; let it bubble gently for a full two minutes before moving on.
  • The casserole will continue cooking slightly after it comes out of the oven, so remove it when the top is golden but not dark brown.
03 -
  • Use fresh cracked black pepper instead of pre-ground—it makes a real difference in how the flavors land.
  • If your cream cheese is cold, cut it into small chunks before adding it to the skillet so it melts evenly without creating lumps.
  • Crush the Ritz crackers by hand into varied sizes rather than making them uniform; the mix of dust and chunks toasts differently and creates better texture.
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