If you love casserole recipes, you are in for a treat with this Cheesy Chicken Casserole. This mouthwatering dish combines gooey, melted cheese, tender chunks of chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta with a creamy sauce. Whether you are looking for a meal for a busy evening or a relaxing family weekend, this chicken and pasta casserole fits the bill.
This dish is all about simplicity. You will be using ingredients that are not only delicious and familiar, but probably already in your pantry or refrigerator. It’s the type of meal that will bring your family to the table with big smiles and hungry bellies.
Jump to:
- Cheesy Chicken and Pasta Casserole
- Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken Casserole
- How to Make Easy Cheesy Chicken Casserole
- What is the Best Way to Cook Chicken?
- How To Store Cheesy Chicken Casserole?
- Can I make Cheesy Chicken Casserole In Advance?
- Tips for Making Cheesy Pasta and Chicken Casserole
- Recipes to Make With Chicken
- Amazon Casserole Must Haves
- More Chicken Casseroles
- 📖 Recipe
Cheesy Chicken and Pasta Casserole
If you have a craving for some cheesy goodness, then you must try our cheddar chicken and pasta casserole. It's the ultimate in comfort food. You will love the versatility of this recipe. You can add whatever type of short pasta you have on hand or add some veggies to make it healthier. We find broccoli works perfectly in this recipe.
Got leftovers? It's no problem with this casserole as it stores easily and is just as yummy the next day. Even picky eaters love this dish since it is packed with melty cheese, hearty chicken, and pasta that's cooked just right. It is super easy to whip up a filling meal that the whole family will enjoy.
Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken Casserole
- Pasta - Choose your preferred type of pasta. I used gemelli pasta.
- Butter - Used as the base of our cheese sauce and for the cracker topping. I used salted butter.
- All-purpose flour - Used to thicken the cheese sauce.
- Chicken stock - Chicken stock deepens the flavor and provides a savory note to the cheesy sauce.
- Milk - Milk adds to the creamy texture. I used 2% milk, but whole milk would work as well.
- Onion powder - Works to enhance the flavor.
- Garlic powder - Garlic makes everything better!
- Salt - Not too much since there are other salty ingredients in this recipe.
- Shredded cheddar cheese - I like sharp cheddar cheese for an extra zing, but feel free to use a more mild cheese if you prefer.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese- Melts well in this recipe and pairs nicely with the cheddar.
- Parmesan cheese - For some salty flavor.
- Chicken breasts - Cooked and chopped or shredded.
- Ritz crackers - Crushed to add a crispy topping to our casserole.
How to Make Easy Cheesy Chicken Casserole
You will be using cooked chicken for this recipe, so the first step is to cook those chicken breasts and either chop or shred them. There are more details on how you can cook the chicken lower in this post.
You'll be boiling some water and cooking the pasta of your choice according to the directions on the package. I find that if I drain the pasta when it is just shy of al dente it does not get mushy when this casserole continues cooking in the oven.
To make a roux, you will whisk butter and flour in a large pot. Next, you'll be whisking in the chicken stock, milk, seasonings, and your two cheeses until you have a velvety sauce. Add the chicken and cooked pasta to this sauce and mix.
All this goes into a 9x13 casserole dish and gets topped with a crushed Ritz cracker and butter topping.
This will bake until the top is a gorgeous golden-brown. Feel free to garnish with chopped green onions for an added bit of color! This cheesy chicken casserole will delight the whole family! Enjoy!
What is the Best Way to Cook Chicken?
You have several cooking options. You can roast the boneless, skinless chicken breast or fry it in a pan and then cut it into bite-sized pieces. You can also boil the chicken, which I find results in more tender and juicy chicken. You can then shred the boiled chicken. If you're short on time, a precooked rotisserie chicken will be your friend. Simply cut up pieces of the flavorful chicken and use them in this recipe.
How To Store Cheesy Chicken Casserole?
This casserole stores well. Let it cool completely and then place it in an airtight container. You can then refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3-4 days.
To freeze this chicken casserole, slice it into individual portions and place the servings in a zip-top bag. Label and date the bag and store it in the freezer. The casserole will maintain its quality for about 2 months.
To reheat, you can either bake it in an oven at 350 degrees until thoroughly warmed (about 20 minutes if refrigerated; 40-50 minutes if frozen) or microwave individual servings for 1-2 minutes.
Can I make Cheesy Chicken Casserole In Advance?
Yes, you can! Just follow the directions for this casserole, but instead of baking it, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Place the uncooked casserole in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. It will keep like this for up to 2 days. When you're ready to eat the casserole, remove it from the refrigerator and bake it according to the directions. The baking time might need an extra 10 to 15 minutes since it will be cold.
Tips for Making Cheesy Pasta and Chicken Casserole
Tip 1: When making the cheesy sauce, use a whisk to help to mix the ingredients. I like this silicone coated whisk since it doesn't scratch up any pot you are using.
Tip 2: If you don't have chicken breasts, you can also use chicken thighs in this recipe.
Tip 3: You can use your favorite short pasta with this recipe. I like something that has ridges or some curves to it since it holds the cheesy sauce well.
Recipes to Make With Chicken
Chicken is truly a dinnertime superhero! It is so versatile that is my go-to ingredient for many recipes. There are so many ways to prepare it too. Whether it's sizzling on the grill at a family barbecue, or used in a comforting homemade soup, chicken easily adapts to any flavor profile and cooking method. Here are some of our favorite chicken recipes:
- Chicken Alfredo Casserole
- Cajun Chicken Recipe
- Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
- Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich from Borrowed Bites
Amazon Casserole Must Haves
When it comes to stocking up on kitchen tools for my casseroles, Amazon is my one-stop shop. If you need some casserole items you can get a variety of them with a few quick clicks. Plus, you can even find top-notch kitchen gadgets that will help you be a more efficient cook.
Bear Claw Meat Shredder - Effortlessly Shred Chicken And Meat With These Powerful Meat Claws
DOWAN Casserole Dish, 9x13 Ceramic Baking Dish, Large Lasagna Pan Deep for Oven, 4.2 Quarts Baking Pan with Handles, Oven Safe and Durable Bakeware for Lasagna, Home Decor Gifts, WhiteCornucopia Stainless Steel X-Large Serving Spoons (2-Pack), Serving Utensil, Buffet & Banquet Style Serving Spoons-(2 Spoons)KEMETHY 40 Pcs Food Storage Containers with Lids Airtight (20 Containers & 20 Lids), Plastic Meal Prep Container for Pantry & Kitchen Organization, BPA-Free, Leak-Proof with Labels & Marker PenSPLF BPA FREE Reusable Storage Bags Dishwasher Safe, 6 Pack Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags, Extra Thick Leakproof Silicone and Plastic Free for Marinate Meats, Cereal, Sandwich, Snack, Travel ItemsGotham Steel 5 Quart Stock Multipurpose Pasta Pot with Strainer Lid & Twist and Lock Handles, Nonstick Ceramic Surface Makes for Effortless Cleanup with Tempered Glass Lid, Dishwasher Safe, Graphite
More Chicken Casseroles
📖 Recipe
Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups pasta short pasta like zita or bowtie
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese
- 3 cups chicken breasts cooked; chopped or shredded
Cracker Topping
- 1 cup Ritz crackers crushed
- 4 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta until it's just shy of al dente, according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and prepare a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- To make the cheese sauce, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large pot, and when melted, whisk in the flour and let it cook for a minute while stirring. Stir will it - just enough to get rid of the raw flour taste. Gradually whisk in the chicken stock milk, salt, onion and garlic powder until it thickens.
- Sprinkle in the shredded cheddar and mozzarella and stir until they are incorporated into the sauce.
- Add cooked pasta and cooked chicken to the pot and combine them with the cheese sauce until everything is coated with the sauce.
- Pour the chicken and pasta mixture into the prepared casserole pan.
- For the cracker topping you will melt 4 tablespoons of butter and crush the Ritz crackers in a bowl. Pour the butter over the crackers and mix until the crackers are fully coated.
- Sprinkle the Ritz cracker crumble on top of the cheesy casserole.
- Bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes until the crust is golden.
Video
Notes
- Use a silicone-coated whisk when making the cheesy sauce.
- Chicken thighs are a good substitution for chicken breasts.
- Any pasta that has ridges or curves works best in this recipe since the sauce will cling to it.
MacKenzie
This chicken casserole just might be a new favorite at our house. The flavors are absolutely delicious.
Gianne
The combination of tender chicken, creamy cheese sauce, and crispy topping is absolutely delicious. It's easy to make and perfect for a comforting family meal.
Carrie Robinson
This casserole is like perfect comfort food! 🙂 I will have to make this for my family asap.
Donalyn
This is the perfect family meal for a busy weeknight - so very tasty! We'll be making this again.