Description
Chicken Nugget Casserole (AKA Mom’s Secret Weapon) is a creamy, comforting baked dish featuring crispy chicken nuggets layered over a flavorful mixture of vegetables, cheese, and a savory cream sauce. It’s a kid-approved, easy family dinner perfect for busy evenings and leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (25-ounce) bag frozen chicken nuggets
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 (12-ounce) bag frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn), thawed
Topping
- 1/2 cup crushed buttery crackers (like Ritz)
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Creamy Base: In a large bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Vegetables & Cheese: Stir in the thawed mixed vegetables and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the creamy mixture. Pour this evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- Layer Chicken Nuggets: Arrange the frozen chicken nuggets in a single layer over the vegetable and cheese mixture.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the chicken nuggets.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed buttery crackers with melted butter, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30–35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the nuggets are golden and crispy on top.
- Rest & Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- For extra flavor, substitute regular chicken nuggets with seasoned or spicy variants.
- Add cooked rice or pasta underneath the vegetable mixture to make this casserole heartier.
- This dish is kid-approved and works great as leftovers.
- Use crushed Ritz crackers for a buttery, crunchy topping.
- Ensure vegetables are fully thawed to avoid excess moisture in the casserole.
