🍽️ Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole – Creamy, Cheesy & Crowd-Pleasing!

📌 Introduction

What is Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole?

Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is a decadent, Southern-style comfort food classic. This creamy, cheesy bake features tender shredded chicken nestled in a luxurious blend of cream cheese, sour cream, and cheddar, all crowned with a buttery layer of crushed Ritz crackers. It’s indulgent, rich, and guaranteed to steal the show at any dinner table.

Why This Dish Went Viral

What started as a luxury-inspired homage to Neiman Marcus’ famed flavors quickly became an internet sensation. Why? Because it blends the luxury of creamy textures with the down-home love of hearty casseroles—making it the perfect Southern comfort food.

✅ Quick and easy to throw together
✅ Crowd-pleasing for potlucks, holidays, or busy weeknights
✅ Perfect for make-ahead dinners and freezer meals

Whether you need a simple family meal or a dish to wow guests, this casserole brings all the flavor—and then some.

Where Luxury Meets Homestyle Comfort

With simple ingredients and big flavor, this casserole proves that you don’t need fancy ingredients to create a dish that feels indulgent. The creamy filling contrasts beautifully with the crunchy cracker topping, giving every bite that satisfying balance of rich and crisp.

🔪 What You’ll Need

Creating this ultra-comforting casserole is easy when you have the right tools and a few shortcuts ready to go.

🛠️ Essential Kitchen Tools

🍽️ 9×13-inch baking dish – Standard casserole size for even cooking
🥣 Large mixing bowl – For combining the creamy filling
🥄 Spatula or wooden spoon – To mix and spread everything smoothly
🧴 Cooking spray or butter – To grease your dish and prevent sticking
🧻 Aluminum foil (optional) – To cover if baking ahead or preventing over-browning

✅ Tip: Lightly butter the dish for an extra boost of richness!

⏳ Time-Saving Tip

🏃‍♂️ Use rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken for major time savings.
Just shred it ahead and you’re halfway done with prep!

🧼 Quick Prep Tip

• Soften cream cheese ahead of time at room temperature for easy mixing.

• Crush Ritz crackers in a zip-top bag using a rolling pin, or pulse quickly in a food processor.

✅ Pro Tip: Prep all your ingredients first so assembling is fast and mess-free!

🥘 Ingredients for Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

This casserole keeps it simple, rich, and comforting—just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients come together for a dish everyone will love.

🔸 Main Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie or home-cooked)

• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

• 1 cup sour cream (full-fat for the richest flavor, but light works too)

• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (sharp cheddar recommended for extra flavor)

✅ Tip: Always shred your own cheese if possible—pre-shredded cheese has additives that can affect melting.

🔸 For the Buttery Topping

• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (about 30 crackers), crushed into coarse crumbs

• 4 tbsp butter, melted

✅ The buttery cracker topping is the signature crunch that makes this dish unforgettable.

🔸 Optional Garnishes (Highly Recommended!)

• Chopped green onions – Adds fresh, zesty contrast

• Crispy bacon bits – For a smoky, indulgent upgrade

✅ Mix in a handful of frozen peas or chopped spinach to sneak in extra veggies!

These ingredients create that signature creamy, cheesy, slightly crunchy casserole that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or freezer meals.

🍳 Instructions: How to Make Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

This creamy, crowd-pleasing casserole comes together with just a few simple steps. Let’s get cooking!

🔹 Step 1: Make the Creamy Filling

In a large mixing bowl:

1. Beat together 8 oz softened cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, and 1 can cream of chicken soup until smooth and creamy.

2. Stir in 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

3. Fold in 3 cups shredded cooked chicken and 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese until everything is evenly combined.

✅ Tip: Make sure the cream cheese is fully softened to avoid lumps in your filling.

🔹 Step 2: Assemble the Casserole

1. Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

2. Spread the chicken and cheese mixture evenly into the dish.

3. In a separate bowl, mix 1 sleeve of crushed Ritz crackers with 4 tbsp melted butter until crumbs are evenly coated.

4. Sprinkle the buttery cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the casserole.

✅ Optional: Add a sprinkle of extra shredded cheese on top for even more gooey goodness!

🔹 Step 3: Bake Until Golden

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbling at the edges and the topping is golden brown and crisp.

3. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving—this helps it set and makes serving easier.

✅ Pro Tip: If the topping browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil for the last 10 minutes.

🥗 Nutrition Score

This rich and creamy casserole is definitely comfort food, but you can easily adjust it based on your dietary goals!

🔢 Estimated Nutrition Per Serving (Based on 8 servings):

• Calories: ~450 kcal

• Protein: ~24g

• Carbohydrates: ~18g

• Fat: ~32g

• Fiber: ~1g

• Sugar: ~2g

Note: Nutrition will vary depending on the brands of cream cheese, sour cream, and crackers used.

💡 Tips to Lighten It Up

🥄 Use light cream cheese and reduced-fat sour cream – Cuts down fat without sacrificing creaminess
🧀 Opt for reduced-fat cheddar cheese – Still melty and delicious
🥬 Mix in vegetables – Like spinach, peas, or broccoli for added fiber and nutrients
🌾 Keto-Friendly Swap:

• Replace the Ritz crackers with crushed pork rinds for a low-carb topping

✅ Pro Tip: Stick to homemade shredded chicken to control sodium levels.

Why It’s Still a Great Choice

Even though it’s indulgent, this casserole offers:

• High protein – Great for satiety and meal satisfaction

• Customizable richness – Easy to adjust ingredients to fit your needs

• Comforting texture and flavor – Making it a perfect main course for any hearty meal

🥡 Serving & Storage Tips

This casserole is best when served hot and fresh, but it’s just as wonderful reheated for easy leftovers. Here’s how to enjoy it at its best!

🍽️ Best Ways to Serve

Pair this rich, creamy dish with lighter sides to balance the meal:

• 🥦 Steamed or roasted green beans, broccoli, or asparagus

• 🥗 A crisp green salad with vinaigrette to cut the richness

• 🍚 Rice or cauliflower rice if you want a hearty base

• 🥔 Mashed potatoes or even roasted sweet potatoes for an ultra-comforting plate

✅ Pro Tip: Garnish with chopped green onions or a sprinkle of bacon bits for extra pop and flavor.

🧊 Storing Leftovers

🧺 Refrigerator:

• Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container

• Keeps fresh for up to 4 days

🧊 Freezer:

• Freeze before baking or after baking and cooling

• Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil or place in a freezer-safe dish

• Keeps for up to 3 months

✅ Pro Tip: If freezing after baking, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.

🔥 Reheating Tips

• Oven (Best): Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes until hot and bubbly

• Microwave (Quickest): Heat individual portions for 2–3 minutes, but note the cracker topping may soften slightly

✅ For crispy topping lovers: Add a few fresh crushed Ritz crackers on top before reheating!

🔄 Variations of Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole

This creamy classic is easy to customize! Here are fun and tasty ways to tweak the recipe depending on your mood, occasion, or dietary needs.

🥓 Add Bacon for Extra Richness

• Stir ½ cup crispy cooked bacon bits into the filling before baking.

• Or sprinkle bacon on top after baking for a smoky finish.

✅ Pro Tip: Bacon and green onions together take this casserole over the top!

🥦 Sneak in Veggies

Want to add color and nutrients? Stir into the filling:

• 1–2 cups steamed broccoli florets

• 1 cup sautéed spinach

• ½ cup frozen peas or diced carrots

✅ Tip: Lightly cook veggies first to avoid adding extra moisture to the casserole.

🥣 Mini Individual Casseroles

Perfect for parties or meal prepping:

• Spoon the creamy mixture into ramekins or mini baking dishes

• Top each with Ritz crumbs and bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly

✅ Great for personalized servings—especially fun for kids or small gatherings!

🌾 Keto-Friendly Version

Swap the cracker topping for:

• Crushed pork rinds

• Almond flour and Parmesan cheese mix

✅ Still crunchy and golden without the carbs!

🌶️ Spicy Kick

Mix a little cayenne pepper or hot sauce into the creamy base for a mild heat that cuts through the richness.

✅ Perfect if you like your comfort food with a little punch!

These variations make it easy to keep the base recipe familiar but exciting depending on what you’re craving.

❓ FAQs

What is Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole?

It’s a rich, Southern-inspired baked dish made with shredded chicken, cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and cream of chicken soup—topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust. It’s creamy, comforting, and totally crowd-pleasing.

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Absolutely!

• Assemble it up to 24 hours in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake.

• Add 5–10 extra minutes of bake time if going straight from fridge to oven.

✅ Great for holidays, meal trains, or Sunday meal prep.

Can I freeze Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole?

Yes!

• Freeze before baking for best results, tightly wrapped

• You can also freeze after baking and cooling—just thaw overnight and reheat in the oven

✅ Avoid freezing with fresh toppings (like green onions)—add those after reheating.

What sides go well with this casserole?

To balance the richness, pair it with:

• Steamed green beans or broccoli

• Crisp garden salad

• Cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes

✅ Pro Tip: A slice of garlic bread never hurts, either.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Yes! Just:

• Use a gluten-free cream of chicken soup

• Substitute the Ritz crackers with gluten-free cracker crumbs or crushed rice cereal

✅ You still get that creamy base and golden topping—minus the gluten.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a rich, comforting, and seriously satisfying meal, this Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole checks every box. With its creamy, cheesy filling and that unforgettable buttery Ritz cracker topping, it’s no surprise this Southern classic has become a viral favorite.

Why This Recipe Belongs in Your Weekly Rotation

✅ Quick and easy – Minimal prep, big flavor
✅ Perfect for potlucks and holidays – Always a crowd-pleaser
✅ Make-ahead and freezer-friendly – Convenience meets comfort
✅ Customizable – Add bacon, veggies, or spice it up your way

Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or bringing comfort to a gathering, this casserole delivers warm, nostalgic goodness in every bite.

💬 Let’s Hear From You!

Have you made this Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole?

• 🍽️ What twist did you add—bacon, broccoli, spicy heat?

• 📸 Snap a photo and tag us on social media!

• 📝 Leave a comment below with your favorite way to serve it

Bring a little Southern hospitality to your table—this Neiman Marcus Chicken Casserole is guaranteed to be a hit!