Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole
The Casserole That Came to Me in a Dream!
I am not even kidding when I tell you that I literally DREAMED about this casserole! Last night, I had a dream about broccoli cheddar cheese soup. But not just any broccoli cheese soup. In my dream, there were these beautiful, wide egg noodles dripping with creamy, cheesy broccoli cheddar goodness. And when I woke up, I could not stop thinking about it! Broccoli. Cheddar. Cheese. Chicken. Noodles. Creamy. All these words were going through my head, and I knew I had to turn this dream into an actual recipe. So naturally, I started looking through some of my favorite recipes that Iโve made over the years.
First, I looked at myย Easy French Onion Chicken Noodle Casserole. Then I looked at myย Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole. And finally, I started thinking about myย Broccoli Cheddar Cheese Soup.
I started taking little elements from each recipe and putting them together in my head. I wanted the comfort of a chicken noodle casserole, the creamy, cheesy goodness of broccoli cheddar soup, and a few special ingredients to make the whole thing absolutely irresistible. And then I just KNEW. I called Maddie and said, โGirl, youโve got to run to the store. Weโre making the casserole of the century!โ And let me tell you something. I WAS RIGHT!
This creamy broccoli cheddar chicken noodle casserole is one of the coziest, creamiest, cheesiest, most delicious casseroles I have ever made. Youโve got tender extra-wide egg noodles, shredded rotisserie chicken, broccoli, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, a rich and creamy sauce, and the most incredible buttery Ritz cracker topping. And hereโs the thing. There isnโt one ingredient that overpowers another. Everything works together so perfectly. Itโs like music in a casserole. I genuinely donโt know how else to describe it! And the best part? Itโs ridiculously easy to make. No complicated sauce. No standing over the stove making a roux. No cooking chicken from scratch. Just mix, bake, and enjoy. MAKE IT!
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Why Youโll Love This Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole
- The ultimate comfort food!ย Tender egg noodles, creamy cheddar cheese, chicken, and broccoli baked together into one cozy dinner.
- Rotisserie chicken shortcut!ย No need to cook chicken from scratch.
- No homemade sauce required!ย Campbellโs Cheddar Cheese Soup, sour cream, mayonnaise, and milk create the most delicious creamy sauce.
- Easy frozen broccoli trick!ย No boiling or steaming broccoli before assembling.
- Freshly shredded cheese!ย Makes the casserole extra creamy and delicious.
- Buttery Ritz cracker topping!ย Golden, crunchy, buttery, and absolutely irresistible.
- Perfect family dinner!ย This is the kind of meal everybody wants seconds of.
- Great for leftovers!ย Reheat it for another cozy meal the next day.
The Secret to Making This Casserole So Creamy
Letโs talk about the sauce because this is where the magic happens. Instead of using cream of chicken soup, which is something I use in some of my other chicken noodle casseroles, I decided to useย Campbellโs Cheddar Cheese Soup. And OH MY GOODNESS. It was the perfect decision! The cheddar cheese soup gives the casserole that delicious broccoli cheddar soup flavor I was dreaming about.
Place your frozen broccoli in a colander set over a bowl in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw. Once thawed, let any excess water drain away. Take a few paper towels and gently blot or squeeze the broccoli to remove extra moisture.
Shred up your rotisserie chicken.
Add in your broccoli, mayo, and sour cream.
Next, pour in the star of the show: Campbell’s Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Sprinkle in the Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning.
Now, time for the Pecorino Romano and freshly shredded cheddar cheese. Mix everything together until combined.
Grab your wide egg noodles!
Once your egg noodles are cooked, drain them in a colander. Then put those noodles right back into the same pot you boiled them in.
Pour in the milk. Take that entire bowl of creamy chicken, broccoli, and cheese mixture and add it into the pot with the noodles and milk. Fold everything together.
Now, THIS is the part you absolutely cannot skip! Take one sleeve of Ritz crackers and crush them into crumbs. You can simply crush them with your hands or place them in a bag and gently crush them.
Combine the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter and mix until the crumbs are coated.
Pour the entire creamy chicken noodle mixture into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle over freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese and the buttery ritz crackers.
Now bake it!
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More Cozy Chicken Casseroles and Soups Youโll Love!
Melissaโs Tips!
- Use a Regular Grocery-Store Rotisserie Chicken. I used a small rotisserie chicken from Publix. You donโt need one of those enormous Costco chickens. If you do buy a Costco chicken, just use approximately half. You want plenty of chicken, but you donโt want it overpowering the noodles and creamy sauce.
- Shred Your Own Cheese. I cannot stress this enough! Freshly shredded cheddar and Colby Jack melt beautifully and create the best texture.
- Donโt Overcook the Egg Noodles. Cook them just until al dente. Theyโre going into the oven for another 30 minutes, so you donโt want them getting mushy.
- Drain the Broccoli Well. Thaw your frozen broccoli and gently blot away any extra moisture. This keeps your casserole creamy instead of watery.
- Donโt Worry About the Thick Mixture. Before adding the milk and noodles, the chicken mixture is going to look incredibly thick. Thatโs normal! The whole milk loosens everything up beautifully.
- Use Whole Milk. Whole milk gives this casserole the richness and creaminess weโre looking for. I wouldnโt substitute almond milk or oat milk for this particular recipe.
- Donโt Skip the Ritz Crackers. I donโt care what anybody says. That buttery Ritz cracker topping is absolutely essential! It adds the perfect crunch and buttery flavor to every bite.
- Bake Uncovered. Thereโs no need to cover this casserole. Baking uncovered allows the cracker topping to become golden while everything underneath gets hot and bubbly.
๐ค Common Questions
No! The broccoli is already blanched before freezing, so once itโs thawed and drained, itโs ready to mix into the casserole. It will heat through and finish cooking in the oven.
Yes! You can substitute fresh broccoli florets. I recommend cutting them into small, bite-sized pieces and briefly steaming or blanching them until just tender-crisp before adding them to the casserole. Drain well before mixing them into the sauce.
Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Thaw the frozen broccoli in a colander in the refrigerator. Drain thoroughly and gently blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Do not precook.
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the extra-wide egg noodles according to package directions until just al dente.
- While the noodles cook, combine the shredded rotisserie chicken, freshly shredded cheddar cheese, Pecorino Romano, ranch seasoning, sour cream, mayonnaise, Campbellโs Cheddar Cheese Soup, and thawed broccoli in a large mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. The mixture will be very thick.
- Drain the cooked noodles in a colander and return them to the same warm pot. Pour in 1 1/2 cups whole milk and gently stir.
- Add the entire creamy chicken and broccoli mixture to the pot with the warm noodles and milk. Gently fold everything together until the noodles are evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle 3โ4 ounces of freshly shredded Colby Jack cheese over the top.
- Crush one sleeve of Ritz crackers and mix with four tablespoons of melted butter until coated.
- Sprinkle the buttery Ritz cracker crumbs evenly over the casserole.
- Place the casserole on the middle-to-lower oven rack and bake uncovered at 350ยฐF for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly with a golden cracker topping.
- Remove from the oven, let rest for approximately 5 minutes, and serve warm. Enjoy!
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Nutrition
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Allow the casserole to cool slightly, then refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container within two hours. Store for up to 3โ4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm larger portions in the oven until heated through. Add a splash of milk if the noodles have absorbed some of the sauce.
