When the weather turns cool, few dishes satisfy like a warm, cheesy chicken noodle casserole fresh from the oven. This classic comfort food combines tender egg noodles, juicy chicken, a creamy sauce, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping for the ultimate family-friendly meal. Best of all, it’s a snap to prepare with shortcut ingredients or from scratch!
What Makes This the Best Chicken Noodle Casserole?
- Crowd-pleasing flavors that both kids and adults adore
- Shortcuts like condensed soup make it a breeze to throw together
- Versatile recipe for using up leftovers or freezer staples
- Hearty, satisfying portions to feed a hungry family
- Creamy, cheesy sauce binding everything together
- Crispy, buttery breadcrumb topping adds amazing texture
- Easy make-ahead and freezer-friendly for meal prep
This chicken noodle casserole checks every box for a winning weeknight dinner. It’s economical, easy, cheesy, and loaded with comforting flavors in each forkful. You can even clean out your fridge or freezer by tossing in extra veggies, meats, cheeses or herbs. Talk about the ideal way to repurpose leftovers!
Chicken Noodle Casserole Ingredients
- Egg Noodles: The perfect pasta to soak up all that creamy sauce. You can also use penne, fusilli or even tortellini.
- Cooked Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken is perfect for easy prep. Leftover turkey or diced ham also work well.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: This pantry staple creates an ultra-rich, creamy sauce. See below for a homemade alternative.
- Milk: To thin out the soup and create a pourable sauce consistency.
- Frozen Veggies: Peas, carrots, broccoli or a mixed medley add nutrition.
- Cheddar: Melty cheese makes everything better! You can use any favorite variety.
- Breadcrumbs: These get tossed with butter for an irresistibly crunchy, golden topping.
Shortcuts for the Easiest Chicken Noodle Casserole
One of the best parts of this recipe is how quickly it comes together with a few shortcut ingredients:
- Use rotisserie chicken or leftover cooked chicken
- Opt for condensed cream of chicken soup instead of making sauce from scratch
- Frozen veggies eliminate prep work
- Buttery breadcrumbs create a crispy topping in no time
- In just 10 minutes of active prep, you’ll have a warm, cheesy, ultra-comforting casserole ready for the oven. Doesn’t get much easier than that!
If you have a bit more time, try making your own homemade condensed cream of chicken soup for an extra flavor boost. Simply whisk together milk, chicken broth, cream, cornstarch and seasonings until thickened. So easy and so worth it!
Make-Ahead Chicken Noodle Casserole for Meal Prep
This chicken noodle casserole is a meal prep dream! You can fully assemble it up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate until ready to bake. It also freezes beautifully for up to 3 months.
To freeze, simply assemble the unbaked casserole in a foil-lined pan. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze until solid. Then you can pop out the frozen block and store it in a freezer-safe bag to save space. So convenient for stashing away easy meals!
When you’re craving pure comfort, just bake the casserole straight from frozen at 350°F for 60-90 minutes until hot and bubbly in the center. You’ll have a warm, cheesy, nostalgic meal on the table with hardly any effort.
With its irresistible flavors and ease of preparation, you’ll want to add this chicken noodle casserole into your regular meal rotation. It’s the kind of hearty, cozy dish that’ll have the whole family asking for seconds. Grab a fork and dig into this cheesy, creamy bliss!
Chicken Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry egg noodles about 8 oz
- 2 cups cooked chicken diced
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup frozen peas or veggie medley
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Cook egg noodles al dente according to package, drain well.
- In a 2-qt baking dish, mix together the noodles, chicken, soup, milk, frozen veggies and pepper.
- In a small bowl, toss together the cheese, breadcrumbs and melted butter.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the casserole.
- Bake for 20 minutes until hot and bubbly. Broil 1 minute to brown the topping if desired.
Enjoy this cheesy, creamy, crunchy chicken noodle casserole for the ultimate cozy meal! It’s nostalgia in every bite.
