Crazy Good Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
This Crazy Good Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked dish featuring tender shredded chicken, creamy sauce, egg noodles, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese. Easy to prepare and perfect for a family dinner, it combines simple pantry ingredients into a flavorful casserole everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Pasta
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (about 2 large chicken breasts)
- 2 cups egg noodles, uncooked
Sauce and Seasoning
- 1 can (10.5 oz / 300 g) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
Toppings
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6 slices), divided
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or a dish of similar size to prevent sticking.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the egg noodles. Cook until just al dente, which means they should be slightly firm as they will continue to cook in the oven. Drain the noodles and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble Mixture: Add the cooked noodles, shredded chicken, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the crumbled bacon into the sauce. Stir thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and bacon on top to create a deliciously cheesy and crispy topping.
- Bake: Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese on top has melted and the casserole is bubbly and hot throughout.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after baking to set. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired before serving to add a fresh flavor and color contrast.
Notes
- For a lower sodium option, use a low-sodium cream of chicken soup and reduce added salt.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute egg noodles with gluten-free pasta.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Adding vegetables like peas or broccoli can boost nutrition and add color.
- If you prefer a smokier flavor, use smoked bacon or a smoked cheese variety.
Keywords: chicken casserole, cheesy casserole, bacon casserole, creamy chicken bake, comfort food, easy dinner recipe
