Million Dollar Chicken Casserole (No Sour Cream, No Mayo)
Rich, creamy, and comforting, this Million Dollar Chicken Casserole uses a homemade cheese sauce without sour cream or mayo. Tender chicken thighs, perfectly cooked noodles, and a buttery cracker topping make it kid-friendly and weeknight-ready. Easy to prep ahead and freezer-friendly for busy nights.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 12 ounces wide egg noodles
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breast)
- 3 tablespoons butter for cheese sauce
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded (divided)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- (1) 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- (1) 10.5 ounce can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 tablespoons butter melted (for cracker topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the egg noodles according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and place directly in the baking dish.
- While the noodles cook, season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked (6–7 minutes per side for thighs, 5–6 for breast). Remove from skillet and shred or chop into bite-sized pieces, then add directly on top of the noodles in the baking dish.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook 4–5 minutes until soft. Sprinkle flour over the onion and stir 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese and all the Parmesan until creamy. Add garlic powder, salt, and pepper and stir.
- Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the chicken and noodles in the baking dish. Add the cream of chicken soup and cream of mushroom soup on top, then gently stir everything in the dish until well combined. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
- In a small bowl, mix crushed crackers with 2 tablespoons of melted butter then sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
- Bake 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!