Chicken casserole is one of the ultimate comfort foods and this is the BEST creamy chicken casserole recipe you’ll find. It’s a passed-down-from-Grandma southern recipe that always comes out so creamy and delicious. The best part is it is so easy to make – ready in an hour and only 5 simple ingredients.

As a busy mom myself, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find the time and energy to prepare meals for my family. That’s why easy recipes are so valuable to me. When I’m short on time, I can quickly whip up a simple meal that still tastes great and is nutritious for my family.

Easy recipes often require minimal ingredients and simple preparation techniques, which means I can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with my family. When it comes to feeding a family on busy weeknights, easy recipes are a lifesaver, allowing me to provide delicious and healthy meals without sacrificing precious time and energy.

This easy and delicious southern Chicken Casserole recipe has been in my cookbook for almost 20 years now and is one of our favorite recipes that is consistently on our menu board at least once a month. An ex-boyfriend’s grandmother actually passed this recipe along to me – best thing I ever got out of that relationship!

I like to call this creamy casserole recipe a southern recipe because it just tastes like what a good ole Mamaw would make her family for Sunday dinner. However, chicken casserole is not exclusive to the South and can be found in various cuisines worldwide.

But ingredients and taste obviously vary depending on the region – this creamy version is definitely a southern thing.

I also think of chicken casserole as a comfort food. The cream, the stuffing… it’s a warm, hearty, and satisfying dish that is associated with home-cooked meals and family gatherings.

The smell of the casserole as it bakes fills our house with a sense of warmth and comfort. Additionally, this chicken casserole recipe makes for a pretty large batch, making it a great option for feeding a crowd, for meal prepping or for having delicious leftovers for another busy night.

How to make the creamy chicken casserole recipe:

The first step in this recipe is to cook your chicken breast. You could always use leftover chicken or even a rotisserie chicken to save time. Using a rotisserie chicken would bring a great flavor to your casserole too.

Once you have your chicken shredded or chopped, you’ll layer it in your casserole dish.

The next step is making the creamy sauce that makes this one of the best creamy chicken casserole recipes. While some recipes may call for cream cheese or sour cream, my recipe uses a couple cans of cream soups. This makes it so easy and fast to prepare.

You’ll want to combine 2 cans of cream soups, a small can of evaporated milk, and a couple cans of your chicken stock that you reserve from stewing your chicken over medium-high heat. If you use a rotisserie chicken, you’ll want to buy a chicken broth to use or just simply omit. Once this is warmed and just starts to boil, layer on top of your chicken.

Next up, you’ll prepare the topping for the casserole. I like to use a stuffing mix and I prepare the entire bag for this recipe. I simply fluff with warmed chicken stock and add the stuffing on top of the creamy mixture.

Since all of your ingredients are already cooked, you’ll simply put this in the oven to warm and get the stuffing a beautiful golden brown.

There are so many small changes and variations you can make in this recipe. I like to keep it a simple, base recipe that can be added to. Here are a few additions that you might want to try next time:

• Rotisserie chicken instead of stewed chicken breasts
• I call for a can of cream of chicken and mushroom soup. You could switch these out for any other cream soups like cream of celery or even cheddar cheese soup.
• Add in fresh vegetables – these could be added to your cream soups. I would suggest chopped mushrooms or broccoli. Or add in sautéed onions and celery to your stuffing.

This is such an easy creamy chicken casserole recipe that will be sure to become a family favorite. It also makes great leftovers for the next day. Simply store in an airtight container and you’ll have a delicious lunch ready to go.

If you love simple recipes, especially southern recipes, check these out:

What to serve with chicken casserole:

I usually serve a side of green beans and mashed potatoes alongside my chicken casserole, but here are some other side dishes that pair well with creamy chicken casserole recipes:

• Green salad
• Steamed or roasted vegetables (such as steamed broccoli, carrots, or peas)
• Roasted potatoes or sweet potatoes
• Rice pilaf or wild rice
• Garlic bread or dinner rolls
• Cornbread or biscuits
• Southern coleslaw or potato salad
• Roasted or grilled corn on the cob
• Baked beans or black beans
• Macaroni and cheese
• Fruit salad or sliced fruit platter.

This recipe was originally published in February 2015. It was updated in August 2023.