Chicken Noodle Casserole Crumble (Print Version)
Creamy baked chicken and noodles with vegetables and a golden cracker topping for hearty meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Poultry & Pasta
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
02 - 12 ounces egg noodles
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 1 cup diced carrots
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
→ Sauce & Dairy
06 - 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
07 - 1 cup sour cream
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Seasonings
11 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Topping
15 - 1 1/2 cups buttery round crackers, crushed (about 30 crackers)
16 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Cook egg noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and diced carrots for 4 to 5 minutes until softened.
04 - In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, peas, sautéed onion and carrots, cooked noodles, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, shredded cheddar, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
05 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
06 - In a small bowl, mix crushed crackers with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until hot, bubbly, and the topping is golden brown.
08 - Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour and genuinely tastes like you spent the whole afternoon cooking.
- The cracker topping stays crispy even after sitting, so it's perfect for potlucks or reheating.
- Everyone at the table, from picky eaters to adventurous ones, seems to find something they love about it.
02 -
- Don't fully cook the noodles, or they'll turn soft and mushy—they need to stay slightly firm to stand up to baking and the creamy sauce.
- Mix the casserole gently rather than aggressively; you want the ingredients distributed, not beaten into submission.
- The crackers will continue crisping as the casserole cools, so don't wait for them to look totally golden in the oven or they'll turn hard.
03 -
- Use a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to cut prep time in half without sacrificing flavor.
- Crush your crackers by hand right before assembling the topping—they'll stay crispier than if you crush them ahead of time.