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Creamy Ranch Chicken Casserole Recipe

4.77 from 59 votes

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Made with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor this creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole is a simple dinner that the whole family will enjoy. Serve with some Butter Rice and Maple Glazed Carrots for the perfect meal!

a serving of chicken ranch casserole on a white plate

Chicken Options

An essential part of this recipe, obviously by the title. I love using chicken tenders because they cook much faster than an actual chicken breast. Be aware that your cooking time will increase if you’re using whole chicken breasts. Chicken cutlets would work well and have the same cooking time as listed below. If you only have the thicker chicken breast, feel free to cube it up and throw it in the bottom of the 9×13 dish.

The Ranch Sauce

The creamy sauce for this casserole is made up of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese. All four of these ingredients are mixed together to make the most delicious slather for chicken that there ever was.

Feel free to use light sour cream and a homemade version of cream of chicken soup for a healthier option.

Crunchy Topping Options

I tend to gravitate towards crushed Ritz crackers for any casserole topping because they create a perfectly crunchy and buttery top, but feel free to use club crackers, soda crackers, french fried onions, or even corn flakes (a la funeral potatoes).

Can I add bacon into this recipe?

You can absolutely add bacon to this recipe! You’ll be going from a chicken casserole to a *fancier* chicken bacon ranch casserole. Simply precook the bacon, crumble, and sprinkle it on top with the ritz crackers. I prefer cooking bacon in the oven but you could always use store-bought crumbled bacon.

How to Make Chicken Ranch Casserole

You only need about 10 minutes of prep to get this casserole ready for the oven! Don’t forget the exact measurements and directions are listed in the recipe card below.

Preheat and Prep

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Make Sauce

Stir cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese together in a large bowl.

Layer Ingredients

Spread the chicken pieces into the bottom of the pan.

Spread the creamy mixture over the chicken evenly. It doesn’t look good now but trust me, when it comes out of the oven it will look like heaven.

Crush Ritz Crackers and top casserole. You’re looking for medium to small pieces.

Bake and Serve!

Bake 25-35 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Enjoy on its own or with rice.

Can I Make This in Advance?

Yes! Simply make according to recipe directions and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. If you are planning on storing it longer than that, I’d recommend adding the crushed crackers right before baking.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This chicken ranch casserole recipe can last 3-4 days, stored in the refrigerator covered.

To reheat, bake at 325-350 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. Or for individual portions, you can nuke it in the good ol’ microwave. Either way, be careful because the contents WILL be hot.

Can you Freeze Chicken Ranch Casserole?

Yes, you absolutely can! Put together the whole casserole, minus the topping, seal in an airtight container and then freeze, unbaked. When ready to bake, thaw, then add the Ritz topping and bake.

Thaw it out in the fridge the day before baking or reheating.

If you want to freeze a baked casserole, follow the directions, let cool completely, and then freeze.

What to Serve with Chicken Ranch Casserole

If you’ve got some time on your hands while the casserole is baking consider making these side dishes:

a serving of chicken ranch casserole on a white plate

More Chicken Casseroles to Try!

Be sure to pin, save, email, bookmark or share this recipe because it’s one you’re going to keep coming back to again and again! Have a great day, friends!

4.77 from 59 votes

Creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole

Made with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor this creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole is a simple dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
servings 6 servings
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken tenderloins
  • 10 1/2 oz cream of chicken soup 1 can
  • 1 1/2 cups sour cream
  • 1 oz ranch seasoning packet
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese grated
  • 40 Ritz crackers crushed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a bowl, stir cream of chicken soup together with sour cream, ranch seasoning, and cheese.
  • Spread chicken into the bottom of the pan. 
  • Spread the creamy mixture over the chicken evenly. 
  • Top with crushed crackers and bake 25-30 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Enjoy on its own or with rice.
    chicken ranch casserole in a casserole dish

Nutrition

Calories: 465kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 974mg | Potassium: 973mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 700IU | Vitamin C: 2.3mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Course: Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken ranch casserole

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Recipe Rating




225 Responses
  1. Lisa

    5 stars
    This recipe is really delicious! We loved it. But with raw chicken it took longer than 30 minutes to cook. It was more like an hour. But it was very tasty. I’m making it for dinner tonight.

    1. Ashley

      Same here! Practically raw chicken after 30 minutes! I was so disappointed, but I just popped it back in the oven for another 30 minutes!

      1. Lauren

        It really depends how thick your chicken breasts are. If you’re using chicken tenders (which is what I originally used in the recipe) then it should be done in 30 minutes. Obviously more time is needed for larger pieces of chicken.

  2. Mary

    5 stars
    Made this tonight, very good, cut in half for two, work great. I used town house crackers on top, my husband really liked the topping.

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  4. Jack Sully

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight for dinner–easy and so good. Next time I think I will use garlic/herb flavored Ritz crackers. Was looking for a great recipe that can be used for family gatherings and even for camping. Thank you for sharing it

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  6. Stacey Richard

    5 stars
    This was a hit! Used
    Tomato Basil Wheat Thins and Pepper Jack cheese instead of Ritz crackers and Cheddar Cheese.
    The sauce was so good I scooped my green beans through it. Lol

    1. Lauren

      I have never added veggies to this, but don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Just make sure you aren’t using watery ones or ones straight from the freezer. Watered down sauce is not yummy.

  7. Rose

    5 stars
    Made this recipe for dinner tonight. So easy to through together and delicious. Served with rice and corn for me and mashed potatoes and corn for my husband. Look forward to making it again. Thanks for the great recipe.

    1. Lauren

      Of course you can! As long as they aren’t too thick, they should cook up just fine. I’d add an extra 5-10 minutes of cooking time. You’ll just have to check with a thermometer to make sure they’re cooked all the way through.

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  9. Lynsee

    This looks AMAZING. I love chicken. I love Ritz crackers. And I love ranch. And it’s fast??? Can’t wait to make it.

  10. Katy Busby

    Excited to try this one next week! I have 8 week old twins and I was looking for something easy. This seems perfect and is something my 6 year old will eat!

  11. Allison

    5 stars
    This looks like my kind of meal! I love having something easy to throw together on hectic nights. Thanks for another helpful recipe!

  12. Krystal

    5 stars
    I am OBSESSED with this meal! We make it almost once a week. It is crazy good. I normally don’t eat leftovers, but I will (and have) eaten this 3 days in a row. My 14 month old loves it too!

  13. Dixie CRUSE

    What crackers can I use instead of Ritz. I usually have saltiness on hand.
    Trying to save buying anything else.

        1. Charla

          Definitely should have read comments before starting. After 30 mins chicken tenders were still raw. Small tenders! Smells amazing hurry and cook😜

  14. Carolyn Ryan

    What else could I use instead of Ranch Dressing packet. I can only get liquid Ranch dressing.
    Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
    Carolyn.

    1. Tina

      5 stars
      You can use ranch dressing instead of packets. Just mix it in with the soup and sour cream. I use Mayo instead of sour cream and sometimes I use both! I hope this helped!
      Tina

          1. Lauren

            I haven’t, but it would probably be pretty good! I’d recommend steaming it until crisp-tender, draining it well and then adding in.

          1. Erin R

            3 stars
            Might be yummy but I’m
            Not sure as I just served my family RAW CHICKEN basically! Ugh used tenderloins, 350 gas oven for 40 minutes & was raw. Putting back in the oven and we’ll try it for lunch tomorrow…. PB & J sandwiched it is for us tonight 😂
            (Really wish I had read the comments)

          2. Lauren

            How thick were your tenderloins? It seems like they should have been baked by 40 minutes if they were as little as mine in the photos. Hmm….

          3. Sarah

            Wish I read the comments before cooking! Raw chicken after 35 minutes! Back in the oven it goes! I’m guessing another half hour!

      1. Kelli

        I’m gonna use chicken breast how long should I cook it they will be chopped up also do I need to pre cook the chicken or can I place in oven raw.

      2. Savannah

        4 stars
        I agree with some other comments I’ve seen – the correct cooking time should be an hour, not 30 minutes. And I did use chicken tenderloins as the recipe called for. Even with that said, the casserole itself tastes yummy!

        1. Joyce

          I think it should be cooked at 400 degrees. I have several chicken recipes with chicken breast, and at 400 for 40 minutes is always perfect.

      3. Ashley

        I want to try this tonight but I’m not sure I have enough sour cream, can I substitute anything? I don’t have Ritz crackers either, I was thinking of either using Doritos or Cheese-its. Probably Doritos because how can you can wrong with ranch and Doritos?

    1. Susan

      5 stars
      I just made this for dinner. It was a hit wit my family and very easy to make!! I will make it again, along with some of your other recipes

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