Chicken casserole is one of those dishes that everyone makes with a thousand different ingredients and flavors. Chicken is a versatile meat that soaks in the flavors with which you choose to surround it. Immensely boring and bland, chicken is nearly flavorless on its own, but this gives you the opportunity to make it whatever you want. Casseroles made with chicken are easy to put together in a limited amount of time and economical to feed large families. This casserole is full of familiar, comfortable flavor, but it will not overload a child's sensitive taste buds. This is the easiest chicken casserole for even beginner cooks to master, so try it during your next family dinner or take it to the neighborhood pot-luck and it will soon be a family and neighborhood favorite.
Ingredients for the Sour Cream Chicken Casserole
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 oz. sour cream
10 3/4 oz can of cream of chicken soup
2 sleeves of Ritz crackers
3/4 cup melted butter
Preparation of the Sour Cream Chicken Casserole
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bring a large pan of water to a boil and add the chicken breasts to the boiling water. Boil the chicken 15 to 20 minutes until the center of the chicken is no longer pink. Drain and rinse the chicken. Shred the chicken with your fingers or cut the chicken into small pieces and set aside. Since this step takes the most time, cook and chop the chicken the day before if you will be pressed for time when preparing the meal. Just cover the chicken pieces and refrigerate until you are ready to prepare the casserole.
Mix the sour cream and cream of chicken soup in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth and has a consistent color. Add the chicken and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste if desired.
Pour the chicken mixture into a casserole dish or a 13x9 baking pan.
Place the Ritz crackers into a one-gallon, zippered storage bag and crush the crackers thoroughly. A rolling pin works well to crush the crackers, but you can use just your hands or anything else that is convenient. Pour the melted butter into the bag to coat the crackers. Kneed the bag with your hands to fully coat all the cracker crumbs and to further crush the crackers. Spread the crumbs evenly over the chicken mixture until the entire surface is covered.
Bake the casserole 20 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crunchy.
Optional Add-ins for the Sour Cream Chicken Casserole
Chicken casseroles are comfort foods. The flavor should not be overwhelming. Chicken casserole flavors should be smooth and easy, but if this casserole is too bland for your taste buds, you can add the flavors your family likes for additional punch. Try these add-ins for additional flavor and nutrition.
- Mixed Vegetables: Boil and drain frozen vegetables before adding them to the chicken and soup mixture to avoid overly saturating the casserole with water. Adding frozen vegetables to the casserole will make the center runny instead of creamy. Likewise, drain any canned veggies before adding them.
- Chili Powder: Sprinkle chili powder sparingly to spice-up the casserole.
- Sautéed Onions: Sauté a chopped union in butter and mix with the chicken, soup, and sour cream to add a little extra flavor.
- Potatoes: Chop and boil a few potatoes to add a layer of texture to the casserole. Adding potatoes will not change the flavor, but it adds a bulk that is a nice addition.
Experiment by adding anything you like. Try onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, additional salt, and pepper, tasting as you go until you achieve your favorite mixture.
Chasity Goddard - Chasity Goddard holds a BA degree from the University of TN. Her wide-ranging interests and research skills pull her in various ...
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