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It's cold in these parts. I'm talking. . .really cold. And, there's nothing I can do about it. I just need to keep keeping on. If there's one positive that comes out of this cold weather snap, it's my food cravings when we go through something like this. I crave comfort food. Don't we all? Maybe it's my "excuse" for wanting to serve my family casseroles every night if I could. Beyond the deliciousness and comfort that casseroles provide, casseroles are just. . .easy.
This Chicken Broccoli Ritz Casserole I'm sharing today is creamy, cheesy and topped off with crunchy Ritz crackers. It's perfect for a busy week night or lazy weekend dinner!
I want to introduce you to one of the loves of my life. My steamer. I "heart" my steamer, I really do. I use it almost every night. It's a life saver when you have multiple things going on in the oven and on the stove. I also use it when I want to shorten oven cook time. I steam my veggies before throwing them in my meat dishes and casseroles. In fact, that's what I used it for in this dish.
As I mixed the other ingredients, I steamed my broccoli to perfection. LOVE.
I'm all about getting dinner on the table in minutes flat; cooking meals you can set and forget or place into the oven and just let cook. Rotisserie chicken works great for this casserole (which is what I used), but you can certainly cook and shred your own chicken rather than using rotisserie. I just like to take the "short road." In my opinion, it ends up more flavorful using a rotisserie chicken. BONUS.
Just look at this wonderful crunchy cracker topping! This has to be one of my favorite aspects of this dish. It gives the casserole such a wonderful buttery flavor. Yum.
Just look at that spoonful of deliciousness. Chicken - check. Broccoli - check. Cheesy goodness - check. Buttery Ritz topping - check. It's all in there - it's a complete meal. Your family is going to love it.
Oh, and the best part? Yep, it gets better. This casserole is EVEN BETTER the second time around. That's right. It heats up beautifully and I truly believe it has even more flavor the second time around. If you're missing the cracker crunch after reheating, just throw a couple more crumbled crackers on top and you're golden.
Chicken Broccoli Ritz Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 ½ sticks butter (divided)
- ½ lb. Velveeta Cheese (cut into cubes)
- 2-3 cups broccoli florets (cooked and drained)
- 10 ¾ ounce chicken and mushroom soup
- 2 cups cooked (shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!))
- 2 sleeves Ritz crackers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the Velveeta cheese and ½ stick of butter. Heat until the butter and cheese are soft and stir to combine.
- Add the shredded chicken, cooked broccoli florets and soup and stir until well mixed.
- Transfer to a greased 13x9 inch baking pan.
- In another microwave-safe bowl, melt the remaining stick of butter.
- Crumble the Ritz crackers in their sleeves and then add to the melted butter. Stir together.
- Sprinkle the Ritz cracker topping over the casserole.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Balancing Flavors: Taste the mixture before transferring it to the baking pan and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Depending on your preference, you can add a pinch of salt, black pepper, or other herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of the Chicken Broccoli Ritz Casserole. Consider incorporating garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika for added depth of flavor.
- Texture and Presentation: To achieve a satisfying texture and visual appeal, ensure that the broccoli florets are cooked to just tender before adding them to the casserole mixture. Overcooked broccoli can become mushy and lose its vibrant color. Additionally, evenly distribute the Ritz cracker topping over the casserole for a crunchy contrast to the creamy filling. This adds both texture and flavor to each bite.
- Customization and Variations: Feel free to customize the Chicken Broccoli Ritz Casserole to suit your preferences or dietary needs. Substitute different vegetables for the broccoli, such as cauliflower or peas, or add additional ingredients like diced onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrition. You can also experiment with different types of cheese or soup flavors to create variations of this classic casserole dish.
Barbara Funke
I am going to make this but do you use 2 kinds of soup or just one of your choice
Sara
Hi Barbara - it's actually one soup - Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup. Here's a photo of what it looks like: https://www.campbells.com/products/condensed/cream-of-chicken-mushroom-soup/. If you can't find it, just choose either cream of chicken or cream of mushroom.
Barbara Funke
Thank you so much. Guess I am really old , never heard of that one and I use chicken and mushroom soups all the time/ Going to fix this Wednesday for my daughter
Sara
You are definitely not the first to ask me about that soup! I hope your daughter enjoys the casserole!
Kathie
Are the cracker sleeves the short ones or the long ones? I used 3 short. It is the oven right now. Looking forward to a tasty dinner.
Sara
Kathie, I usually use the longer cracker sleeves, but 3 of the shorter sleeves will also work. How was dinner?!
Sarah Palmer
Pinning! Thanks for linking up to Tips & Tricks! Hope to see you again this week! 🙂
Bridget/The Recipe Wench
I love the idea of using rotisserie chicken. That is now officially on my list! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe on Inspire Me Mondays. Hope to see you around!
Lori Hart
Heaven in a casserole dish! I love this. Found you over at Two Cup Tuesday. I'd love it if you would link this to my Tuesday recipe link party, Tickle My Tastebuds http://bit.ly/1MOHF17
Sara
It's there already, Lori! Thanks for hosting such a fun party!
Carol Morphy
I tried to log in but it wouldn't let me. I copied a recipe of yours somewhere on the internet, maybe it was Pinterest or something but I have a couple questions about the Broccoli & Cauliflower Parmesan Bake recipe. One where to add the flour, it doesn't say then in the ingredients it lists 1/4 cup parmesan plus 2 tablespoons divided. Then In the Instructions after adding the cream cheese it says 1/3 cup Parmesan.
I made it but haven't tasted it yet. I would certainly like the correct recipe it looks so good. I'm not much good in the kitchen. Thank you for your time and recipe.
Sara
Hi Carol, sorry about that! Everything should be fixed up now and ready to go. Here's a link to the recipe again: https://bitzngiggles.com/2014/01/broccoli-cauliflower-parmesan-bake.html