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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!
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:
- Roasted Green Beans
- Roasted Cauliflower
- Famous Butter Rice
- Homemade Crescent Rolls (No-Knead Recipe)
- Strawberry Salad
- Pear Salad
More Chicken Casseroles to Try!
- Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
- Chicken and Stuffing Casserole with Sour Cream
- Swiss Chicken Casserole
- Southwest Chicken Pasta Casserole
- Pesto Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Southwest Crockpot Egg Noodle Casserole
More Favorites from Lauren’s Latest
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!
Creamy Chicken Ranch Casserole
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.
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.
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!
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.
For delicious, juicy chicken in this recipe, I bake my chicken covered without the topping but covered completely in the sauce, for 3 hrs on 250 ir 275. Believe me, it is so sensational! I remove it and add the topping and back in the oven on high heat, to brown the topping … it’s wonderful!
I’m not a cook but this looks like something I could do to surprise my husband. Thank you!
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.
What would make a good with this? mash potatoes?
or rice.
We eat it with mashed potatoes all the time.
What could i use instead of the cheese.? My fiance hates cheese
Just skip the cheese. You could add mushrooms and my family LOVES black olives and red onions. Sometimes, not often, I sprinkle a wee bit of chopped black olives and sliced red onion onto one half of the casserole (I don’t like them),
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Can this be divided and frozen for single meals later? If so, any suggestions or changes?
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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Can you make this in a crock pot ?
I was confused what was put on top when serving. Thanks
She spooned some of the sauce from the baked dish over the serving.
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
Have you ever added veggies to it? Maybe carrots, peas, spinach….always looking for ways to incorporate veggies!
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.
Wow so good and so easy. I couldn’t find cream of chicken so I went for mushroom soup instead.
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.
This is one of my go to dinner receipes that I make weekly! My family loves it
Can I use chicken breast?? If so how long should I cook it for and what temp
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.
Can you use cream cheese instead of sour cream? I don’t like the flavor or texture that sour cream gives to food.
I agree with you. Sour cream gives it a slightly sour taste. I want to try cream cheese. How much cream cheese would equal. 1 1/2 cups of sour cream,?
So you dont boil the chicken first? When I make poppyseed chicken I do
Nope!
This is a steady recipe in my meal rotation. Easy and absolutely fabulous!
Our family really liked this dish and my pickiest eater has asked me to make it again.
Is it just 1 oz or is it 1 packet if ranch??
I seen you drizzle something else on top after you cooked it ? What was it
I am also wondering the same thing..
i baked mine for a hour. it was very good.
Looks good
You know what would be great on top? Crushed cheese-it crackers????
I’m intrigued…now I need to try it with Cheese-its. Thanks for the tip!!
Do you keep it uncovered
[…] CREAMY RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE […]
One of my family favorites. Thanks for sharing.
On my menu plan for this week
This looks AMAZING. I love chicken. I love Ritz crackers. And I love ranch. And it’s fast??? Can’t wait to make it.
Gotfa try this!
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!
This looks really good. I will have to try it, always looking for new ways to cook chicken.
Made this last week. It was easy and delicious! Leftovers reheated well too!
This looks amazing! Adding to my menu for the week
This looks like my kind of meal! I love having something easy to throw together on hectic nights. Thanks for another helpful recipe!
Made this-so delish!
Thank you
I’m always looking for easy dinner ideas and this one fits the bill can’t wait to try it.
We’ve made this twice and it’s so delicious! Super easy recipe and takes no time at all!
Love this and hope to try it soon!
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!
Nutritional values?
I’ve made this twice since you posted it definitely a new family favorite!!
This looks delicious and easy!
This sounds amazing!
Ranch + chicken= always a winner
Can’t wait to try this tonight!
This looks delicious! I know my family will like this.
What crackers can I use instead of Ritz. I usually have saltiness on hand.
Trying to save buying anything else.
Saltines would work, as would corn flakes, crushed ruffles chips or french’s crispy onions.
You can easily use bread crumbs or chopped croutons or even crush potatoe chips
ur use boxed stuffing if you have that on hand.
That sounds perfect!
Definitely should have read comments before starting. After 30 mins chicken tenders were still raw. Small tenders! Smells amazing hurry and cook😜
Why not use corn flak crumbs instead of ritz crackers.
You can definitely use corn flakes in place of the crackers.
I am going to use pork rinds instead of crackers. Darker onions might be good too!
I have looked for grated cheddar cheese and can’t find it.
Any suggestions
You can always grate it yourself! 8 oz. is half a pound 🙂
This is good
What else could I use instead of Ranch Dressing packet. I can only get liquid Ranch dressing.
Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
Carolyn.
Try this homemade recipe: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/homemade-ranch-seasoning-mix/
Penzey’s Spices has a Buttermilk Ranch Dressing base…. really yummy…would work great with this…
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
How much ranch dressing do I use to substitute for the ranch seasoning please?
Have you added broccoli ever to this dish?
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.
Looks yummy! What temperature do you bake this?
350!
Do you cover this with foil?
This did not take 30 to cook. More like an hour. After 30 min the chicken was raw.
Did you use tenders or chicken breast?
i agree and I used ternderloins just like you said
What about shredding a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store ??(fully cooked)
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)
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….
Thanks for this comment! I just pulled mine out after 30min and it was raw too!
Wish I read the comments before cooking! Raw chicken after 35 minutes! Back in the oven it goes! I’m guessing another half hour!
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.
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!
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.
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?
Plain greek yogurt will work!
Don’t have that either! 😩
If you have cream ch you could use that. About half the amt as the sour cream. Cheez-its might cook better
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