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Yes, this is the ultimate chicken casserole! With shredded chicken, egg noodles, corn, bacon, and a creamy, cheesy sauce, this is a casserole made for big appetites!
My Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe
Calling this recipe the ultimate chicken casserole means it has a lot to live up to. It better be satisfying! And cheesy! With plenty of flavor and texture, but also easy to make.
Well, friends, I think this recipe delivers. This ultimate chicken casserole has it all and then some—tender egg noodles, juicy chicken, corn, and bacon, all in a cream of mushroom and cheese sauce. The whole shebang is finished with a layer panko for a crispy-crunchy topping that no one can resist.
Go to the recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole
Ingredients for Ultimate Chicken Casserole
Go to the recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Shredded cooked chicken – About 1 rotisserie chicken, or use my Instant Pot whole chicken recipe.
- Wide egg noodles – Cook these al dente so they don’t get mushy in the casserole.
- Frozen corn – Canned is fine, too.
- Cooked bacon – Crumble this up so there’s bacon in every bite!
- Cheddar cheese – Sharp or mild both work, so use whichever one your family prefers.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup
- Half-and-half
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Onion powder
- Panko bread crumbs – Panko adds a much more crispy-crunchy texture than standard store-bought breadcrumbs. If you don’t have panko, I recommend making your own breadcrumbs as an alternative.
- Nonstick cooking spray
Variations
- Try different vegetables like a frozen veggie blend or broccoli florets.
- Swap bacon bits for the cooked bacon, and save yourself some prep time.
- Add French fried onions to the top instead of panko.
- Try cream of chicken soup instead of cream of mushroom.
- Add some hot sauce or cayenne to give it a kick and make a spicy chicken casserole!
Go to the recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole
How to Make Ultimate Chicken Casserole
- Prepare: Preheat an oven to 350ºF, and spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix the main ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, stir together the chicken, cooked pasta, corn, bacon, cheese, onion, and garlic.
- Make the sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the soup, half-and-half, salt, pepper, and onion powder.
- Assemble: Pour the sauce into the bowl with the chicken mixture, and stir to combine. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish, and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top.
- Bake: Place the baking pan in the preheated oven, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the filling begins to bubble around the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, and serve.
Go to the recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole
How to Store Leftover Ultimate Chicken Casserole
Go to the recipe: Ultimate Chicken Casserole
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the casserole in the oven at 350ºF until warmed through. Or, pop it in the microwave if you want to heat it faster.
You can also freeze this simple chicken casserole recipe for up to three months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, reheat it in the oven until hot. It will be just as delicious as the day it was made!
Serving Suggestions
This is a meal on its own, so there’s no need to serve it with anything on the side! That said, if you want to stretch it out further, serve it with side dishes like steamed broccoli or homemade dinner rolls.
