Crazy Good Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe
This Crazy Good Casserole is a comforting and hearty chicken noodle bake featuring tender shredded chicken, creamy sauce, melted cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon. It’s an easy-to-make dinner that’s perfect for family meals or potlucks, combining simple pantry staples into a deliciously cheesy and savory casserole.
- 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 Noodles
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded (about 2 large chicken breasts)
- 2 cups egg noodles, uncooked
Sauce
- 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
- ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 6 slices)
- 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 (or similar size) baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the egg noodles and cook until just al dente, meaning they should still be slightly firm since they will continue cooking in the casserole. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
- Make the 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 Casserole: Add the drained noodles, shredded cooked chicken, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the crumbled bacon into the sauce mixture. Stir everything thoroughly so all ingredients are evenly coated with the creamy sauce.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared greased baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and bacon on top for a deliciously cheesy and crispy topping.
- Bake: Cover the casserole with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Afterward, remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and the casserole is heated through.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired to add a fresh and colorful touch before serving.
Notes
- Make sure not to overcook the noodles in boiling water since they will finish cooking in the oven, which prevents mushiness.
- You can substitute cooked chicken with leftover rotisserie chicken to save time.
- For a lower-fat version, use low-fat sour cream and reduced-fat cheddar cheese.
- Adding green onions or fresh herbs as garnish enhances flavor and presentation.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just increase baking time slightly if baking cold.
Keywords: chicken casserole, cheesy chicken bake, comfort food, easy dinner, baked casserole, creamy chicken noodle casserole, bacon casserole
