Neiman Marcus-Style Chicken Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and crunchy. It's a retro-inspired favorite that is packed with rotisserie chicken, melty cheese, crispy bacon, crunchy almond slivers, and more. Best of all, this one-pot meal comes together with minimal prep and maximum flavor.
Baked until golden and bubbly, this chicken dish is the perfect weeknight casserole with all the creamy comfort of a Southern classic.
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Recipe at a Glance
- ⏱️ Ready In: 50 minutes
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Ingredients: Rotisserie chicken, green onion tops, bacon, toasted slivered almonds, and frozen green peas in a creamy, cheesy sauce, topped with Ritz cracker crumbs.
- 👩🍳 Serves: 6
- 💡 Difficulty: Easy
- 📦 Make-Ahead Friendly: Yes
- 🥘 One-Pot Friendly: Yes
Is There an Original Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole Recipe?
Not exactly, at least not one that has been officially published by Neiman Marcus. The so-called "Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole" has gained popularity online and in Southern community cookbooks. However, it's more of an inspired dish than a documented one.
This recipe captures the classic tearoom ambiance that Neiman Marcus cafés were known for - elegant, creamy casseroles with rich flavors and refined ingredients like almonds, cheese, and buttery toppings. While it's not from the original menu, this recipe embodies the Neiman Marcus style in all the best ways.
Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need
Simple Steps to Make Neiman Marcus-Style Chicken Casserole
- Mix: In a large bowl, add the shredded rotisserie chicken, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cheddar cheese, sliced green onion tops, toasted slivered almonds, crumbled bacon, and frozen green peas. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Transfer: Transfer the combined ingredients to an oven-safe 9 x 13-inch casserole dish that has been sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Spread, Cover, and Partially Bake: Spread the mixture evenly in the casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly.
- Ritz Topping: While the casserole is baking, prepare the Ritz Cracker topping by combining Ritz Cracker crumbs with melted butter.
- Top: Remove the casserole from the oven and discard the aluminum foil. Sprinkle the top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and then sprinkle the prepared Ritz Cracker crumbs on top.
- Final Bake: Return the uncovered casserole to the 375°F oven for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
Serve with a green salad on the side, and be prepared for creamy, crunchy, cheesy goodness.
Whether you're serving a hungry family, contributing to a potluck, or prepping a meal for later in the week, the shortcut ingredients keep things stress-free without sacrificing taste. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
Feel free to substitute cream of chicken soup in this recipe. The taste will be a bit different, but still delicious. If you want to add a special touch to this recipe, consider substituting béchamel sauce.
You can omit the almonds. However, the almonds add a satisfying crunch and a nostalgic element to the dish.
One of the beauties of this recipe is its make-ahead convenience. I often assemble the casserole without the toppings, cover it, and refrigerate it for up to a day. When I'm ready to serve it, I add about 15 minutes to the first baking if straight from the refrigerator, and finish it as per the recipe below.
Leftovers are excellent. Cover and refrigerate for up to three days. To revive the crispy topping, reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. If you're not concerned about the crispy topping, reheat in the microwave. It's a matter of preference.
Recipe Tips and Serving Suggestions
- I purchased the rotisserie chicken from Sams and used only the white meat for this recipe. The chicken was juicy and tender, and delicious in the casserole. There was enough chicken left over for a tasty Chicken Salad with Craisins and Pecans! Two meals from one $4.98 rotisserie chicken.
- The shredded chicken had pretty long shreds, so I cut the pieces to about 1 inch for a more cohesive presentation.
- If you're a fan of extra gooey toppings, use a mix of Monterey Jack and Mozzarella cheeses.
- If I'm out of Ritz crackers, I substitute Panko breadcrumbs. Also, I'll sometimes add several tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the crumb topping.
- To balance the richness of this casserole, I like to serve it with a crisp green salad and warm dinner rolls on the side.
- The leftovers are delicious on their own, but work really well spooned over baked potatoes or rice.
Other One-Pot Wonders
Neiman Marcus-Style Chicken Casserole has everything you need for an amazing one-pot meal. For other one-pot wonders check out these recipes.
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Neiman Marcus-Style Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
Chicken Casserole Base
- 4 cups (around 20 ounces) shredded rotisserie chicken (See Tip 1)
- 10.5 ounce can of cream of mushroom soup (See Tip 2)
- 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream (See Tip 3)
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese (See Tip 4)
- ½ cup (1 ounce) sliced green onion tops
- ½ cup (2 ounces) toasted slivered almonds (See Tip 5)
- 6 slices bacon, cooked, drained, and crumbled
- 1 cup (around 5 ounces) frozen green peas (See Tip 6)
Topping
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers (24 to 28 crackers or around 3 ounces) (See Tip 7)
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Instructions
Chicken Casserole Base
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13-inch oven-safe casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the chicken, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, almonds, bacon, and frozen peas. Stir until fully combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish, and spread into an even layer. Cover with aluminum foil. (See Tip 8)
- Bake in the preheated 375°F oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.
Topping
- While the casserole is baking, combine Ritz cracker crumbs and melted butter in a small bowl.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and discard the aluminum foil.
- Sprinkle the top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Top with prepared Ritz cracker crumbs.
- Return to the 375°F oven for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
- Yield: 6 servings. (See Tip 9)
Video
Tips/Notes
- I used the white meat from a rotisserie chicken purchased from Sams. The chicken was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The shreds were a bit long, so I cut them into 1-inch pieces for a more cohesive presentation.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup for the cream of mushroom soup. Alternatively, you can skip the canned soup and use 1 cup of béchamel sauce.
- I used light sour cream, but feel free to use full-fat sour cream in this recipe.
- I used extra-sharp cheddar cheese. However, sharp or mild cheddar cheese will work fine.
- Toast the slivered almonds at 350°F for 8 minutes. Watch carefully to ensure the almonds don't burn.
- There is no need to thaw or cook the green peas before adding them to the casserole mixture. They will cook as the casserole cooks.
- You can substitute Panko breadcrumbs for the Ritz Cracker crumbs.
- The casserole can be made in advance up to the point where the mixture is transferred to the casserole dish. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to a day. Add 10 to 15 extra minutes on the first bake if cooking it straight from the refrigerator.
- Leftovers are excellent. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through. If you're not concerned about retaining the crispiness of the topping, you can reheat the leftovers in the microwave.
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