This is an easy casserole filled with flavorful chicken, creamy sauce, perfectly cooked broccoli, and the most amazing butter cracker topping to add a touch of perfect texture. You’ll find yourself coming back to this one again and again for a perfect weeknight option! We love casseroles because not only are they easy to throw together, but also because they are so delicious! This classic chicken couch features broccoli, chicken and a creamy sauce made from scratch with real ingredients like cheddar cheese, sour cream and a hint of mustard. It’s a tasty upgrade from the usual!
For more casserole ideas, try our Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole or our savory Taco Casserole.
Because our recipe
- Our recipe uses a sauce made from scratch rather than canned soup.
- You can’t go wrong with that buttery Ritz cracker topping!
- This casserole can be made ahead of time and stored until ready to cook, making it a perfect meal prep option.
Casseroles are the emblem of simplicity and practicality, and this is no exception! The preparation time is not long and assembly will only take a few minutes. If you want to make it ahead of time, it’s super easy to make it ahead of time and then refrigerate or freeze it until you’re ready to bake it!
Notes on ingredients
- Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great time saver here, but any leftover cooked chicken will work. You will need about 2 pounds or about 4 cups of chicken.
- Frozen Broccoli: There is no need to defrost them first – they will cook perfectly in the oven. If you prefer fresh broccoli, you can substitute it, but steam it for 7 minutes to soften it before layering.
- Stuffed: We do not recommend any specific brand of padding, so feel free to choose the brand your family prefers.
- Sour cream: If you need a substitute, Greek yogurt works well in equal parts.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar is best for this recipe, but mild cheddar or other cheeses like Gruyère or Monterey Jack also work.
- Ritz crackers: We recommend using Ritz crackers to top the casserole, but you can also use a regular breadcrumb topping if you prefer!
- Mayonnaise: If you’re not a fan of mayonnaise, you can use an equal amount of plain Greek yogurt or even more sour cream.
- Lemon: For this recipe you will need the juice of two medium-sized lemons. If you don’t have lemons, you can also use bottled lemon juice in a pinch, but we recommend squeezing it fresh, if you can, to really get that tangy, citrus flavor.
Prepare the sauce
One of the best parts of this casserole is the sauce, which is perfectly creamy with a slight tang from the lemon juice and sour cream. Many other casseroles use cream soup cans to make the sauce, but taking the extra step to make your own sauce will make such a big difference that you’ll never want to use pre-made sauces again! The sauce is not complicated to make and all you need is to mix it and heat it on the stove. That’s all!
Create Next option
This meal is a great option if you want to meal prep for a busy day later in the week. You can prepare this flan up to 24 hours in advance and then store it in the refrigerator until ready to cook it. If you use this method, you will need to cook it a little longer, about an hour total.
If you want to prepare it even further in advance, you can also freeze the flan before cooking it. Cover the casserole with several layers of plastic wrap or foil, and you can store it in the freezer for up to three months. Leave to thaw in the fridge overnight before baking, then you will need to cover it with cling film for the first 30 minutes in the oven. Once the foil is removed, cook uncovered for another 45-55 minutes.
Instructions for storage and heating
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
Freeze remaining portions in an airtight container or resealable plastic freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Heat Microwave portions on high power in 30-second increments, stirring together for even heating.
