When you need a comforting dinner that comes together without a lot of fuss, casseroles are hard to beat. This 5-Ingredient Chicken Casserole, popularly associated with Dolly Parton, combines tender shredded chicken, creamy soup, sour cream, melted cheddar, and a buttery cracker topping for an easy family meal.
The result is creamy and cheesy underneath, with a golden, crunchy topping that adds just the right amount of texture. It’s a particularly handy recipe for busy weeknights, potlucks, or whenever you have leftover cooked chicken to use.
One important clarification: although this recipe is commonly shared online under Dolly Parton’s name, its exact origin and authorship aren't always clearly documented. It’s more accurate to describe it as a Dolly Parton-inspired or popularly attributed casserole rather than claiming Dolly personally created or published this exact version.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Casserole
Simple recipes often become the ones families return to again and again, and this casserole is a perfect example.
- Uses only five main ingredients
- Great for leftover or rotisserie chicken
- Requires minimal preparation
- Creates a rich, creamy filling
- Includes plenty of melted cheddar
- Has a buttery, crunchy cracker topping
- Works well for weeknight meals and gatherings
- Can be assembled ahead of time
If you use a rotisserie chicken, most of the preparation is already done. Simply remove the skin and bones, shred the meat, and you're ready to start.
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve buttery round crackers, crushed
These five ingredients are all you need for the basic casserole.
Optional Seasonings
The recipe is intentionally simple, but you can add a little extra flavor with pantry staples such as:
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried parsley
- Paprika
Use seasonings sparingly so they complement rather than overpower the creamy chicken and cheese.
How to Make the Casserole
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking dish or another similarly sized casserole dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
2. Prepare the Creamy Chicken Mixture
Add the shredded chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, and sour cream to a large mixing bowl.
Stir everything together until the chicken is evenly coated and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
If you're using plain cooked chicken, add a little black pepper, garlic powder, or another seasoning of your choice.
3. Layer the Chicken and Cheese
Spread half of the chicken mixture evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar over the chicken.
Add the remaining chicken mixture and spread it evenly. Finish with the rest of the cheddar cheese.
Layering the ingredients helps distribute the cheese throughout the casserole instead of concentrating it only on top.
4. Add the Cracker Topping
Crush the buttery crackers into a mixture of crumbs and small pieces.
Avoid crushing them completely into powder. Keeping some larger pieces gives the finished casserole a more satisfying crunch.
Sprinkle the crackers evenly over the cheese.
For the crispiest topping, add the crackers shortly before baking.
5. Bake
Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until the filling is hot and bubbling and the cracker topping has turned golden brown.
If the crackers begin browning too quickly, loosely cover the casserole with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
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