There’s something magical about the aroma of a chicken noodle casserole bubbling away in the oven that instantly transforms a house into a home. This quintessential American comfort food represents everything wonderful about family dinners: it’s hearty, budget-friendly, and brings everyone together around the table. With tender chicken, soft egg noodles, and a creamy sauce loaded with vegetables, this casserole delivers satisfaction in every single bite.
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Chicken and noodle casserole
This simply baked chicken noodle casserole is the perfect dish for the weeknight or even a potluck dinner. Easy to make, and you can put this dish together ahead of time if you like and reheat it when you are ready to serve.
This is a great way to stretch your cooking budget too. Chicken, noodles, a couple of cans of soup, and some frozen vegetables can go a long way.
What makes this recipe so good
Casseroles, or hotdishes if you are from the Midwest, are classic comfort food for a very good reason. Not only are they filling and taste great, but they’re inexpensive, easy to make, and can feed a small army.
It is time to bring back these wonderful weekday meals, and one of the best recipes to get you started is this easy chicken noodle casserole.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Provide lean protein that stays tender when properly poached and adds substantial heartiness to the casserole
- Salt – Seasons the chicken during poaching while enhancing natural flavors throughout the cooking process
For the Aromatics
- White onion (chopped) – Creates sweet, savory foundation that becomes mellow and aromatic when sautéed properly
- Celery (chopped) – Adds essential crunch and fresh flavor that complements chicken beautifully in a classic combination
- Unsalted butter – Provides rich flavor base for sautéing vegetables while adding creamy richness to the overall dish
For the Creamy Base
- Condensed cream of chicken soup – Forms part of the rich, savory sauce base with authentic chicken flavor
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup – Adds earthy depth and additional creaminess to create a complex flavor profile
- Sour cream – Contributes tangy richness while preventing sauce from becoming too heavy or breaking during baking
For Substance and Texture
- Mixed frozen vegetables – Provide color, nutrition, and varied textures with convenient green beans, carrots, peas, and corn
- Egg noodles – Create the essential starchy base that absorbs flavors while providing satisfying substance
- Cracker crumbs – Form the golden, crunchy topping that adds textural contrast to creamy interior
How to make chicken and egg noodle casserole
To poach the chicken breasts:
- Place the chicken breasts in a medium pot. The pot needs to be wide enough to prevent the chicken breasts from overlapping and deep enough to allow for a one-inch cover over the chicken. Season the chicken with some salt. If you want, you can add a little pepper or fresh herbs.
- Cover the chicken by about an inch with cold water. Optionally, add a touch of elegance by incorporating half a cup of white wine.
- Bring the water to a boil, and reduce it to a simmer. Skim off any scum that appears on the surface of the water.
- Cover and cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Timing can vary depending on the thickness of the chicken, but you can start checking after about 10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the liquid, reserving it for later use, and cool the chicken breasts on a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet.
- Chop the chicken into medium dice.
To prepare this easy Chicken Noodle Casserole recipe:
- Boil the egg noodles according to the package directions. You can use the reserved poaching liquid to enhance the flavor.
- While the noodles are cooking, place a large skillet over medium heat and saute the onions and celery in butter until translucent. Season the vegetables with a pinch of salt.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Blend the cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups with the sour cream in a large bowl until smooth.
- Add the sauteed and frozen veggies to the sauce.
- Drain the cooked egg noodles and add them to a large casserole or baking dish. Stir in the sauce and the diced cooked chicken. Stir the chicken mixture until it is well blended.
- Sprinkle the cracker crumbs on top of the casserole and bake uncovered until hot, about 20 minutes.
A favorite recipe variation
In the casserole heyday, Campbell’s chicken noodle casserole may have been king, but chicken broccoli noodle casserole ran a close second. It is a classic family dinner based on the same recipe as above and is a great way to introduce your kids to broccoli.
To make chicken broccoli noodle casserole, replace the frozen mixed vegetables in the recipe with an equal amount of frozen broccoli and keep everything else the same.
What to serve with it
Casseroles are so popular because they are a one-dish meal, but you can always add a salad or a bowl of soup to help round out dinner.
Storage & reheating instructions
- Refrigerator Storage: Store covered for up to 4 days in airtight containers or covered with plastic wrap
- Reheating Method: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes, covered with foil. Sprinkle with water or chicken broth to prevent the mixture from drying out. Individual portions can be microwaved for 2-3 minutes
- Freezing: Freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Love chicken casseroles? Try these recipes!
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
- Chicken Cornbread Casserole
- Chicken Poppyseed Casserole
- Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
- Chicken Tarragon Casserole
- Leftover Chicken Breast Casserole
Favorite comfort food recipes
- American Chop Suey
- Brown Sugar Meatloaf
- Calico Beans
- Hamburger Steak with Gravy
- Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes
- Skillet Mac and Cheese
Check out more of my easy casserole recipes and the best comfort food recipes on CopyKat!
Chicken Noodle Casserole Recipe – Easy Comfort Food
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast
- 6 ounces egg noodles
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 medium white onion chopped
- 2 ribs celery chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 12 ounces mixed frozen vegetables
- 2 cups cracker crumbs you can use panko crumbs
- 1/4 cup butter melted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- If the chicken breasts have not been cooked, place the chicken into a large stock pot with enough water to fully cover them. Cook on medium-high heat until it is cooked through. Depending on the thickness of your chicken, this can cake 20 to 30 minutes. When the chicken is done, remove it from the water, and cut it into bite-sized cubes. If desired, you can reserve the water to cook the noodles for additional flavor.
- Cook the noodles according to the package directions, using the same water you used to cook the chicken, if desired. Drain the noodles after they have cooked.
- Place the butter in a medium pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the onions, celery, and salt. Sauté until the celery is tender and the onions become translucent.
- In a mixing bowl, make a creamy sauce by combining the two cans of condensed soup and the sour cream. Blend until you have a uniform mixture. Then add the sauteed onions and celery and the frozen vegetables to the bowl and mix well.
- Fill a 2-quart casserole dish with the cooked noodles. Add the creamy sauce and stir to coat the noodles with the sauce.
- In a small dish, combine the cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix until the cracker crumbs are coated with butter. Spoon the cracker crumbs on top of the casserole.
- Bake the casserole for about 20 minutes before serving.
I’m not sure if Stephanie will see this, but this is the first recipe that I have ever tried on my own. Ever since I was young, I had a fascination with cooking and at 20 years old I finally made something on my own that was “grown up” besides baking desserts. I looked for something easy that didn’t require much stove top work as I didn’t have a clue about sautéing, how much oil to put, or even how to season anything! I also wanted to learn how make good home cooked, normal people meals. Food network is great but it involves weird creations that only people in the cooking world would actually enjoy. I call it identical to the fashion shows with weird clothes no normal person would wear. I have always wanted to learn how to cook so that one day when I have a family it could be a form of bringing us together and it makes me very prideful (in a good way) when I create dishes others enjoy.
A few years later, I still enjoy looking at this video! I have gotten so much better and no matter what complicated dish I learned how to make, this is still my go to. It’s so comforting and delicious. This and the pumpkin bread are what first helped me start and learn new concepts. I appreciate all of your videos and recipes and I often share your collection. Please don’t ever stop!
Thank you very much 😉 I do read my comments. It’s my goal to help you cook normal meals with food you can find in a regular grocery store!
*)
Um . . . What do I do with the chicken? (Sort of in jest, but really – near as I can tell the casserole is in the oven and the chicken is still on the stove.
I will double check my recipe. thanks.
Hi Stephanie,
After liking the post of “All the comments on a Recipe Blog” I decided I had a few questions about the ingredients in your recipe. (LOL)
1. Instead of raw chicken can I substitute cooked pork, because that’s all I have in my fridge.
2. Can I use a white onion instead of a red one? Can you tell me what the difference is between them?
3. What is a good substitute for celery if you don’t have any? I was thinking maybe some parsley?
4. My family doesn’t like butter but loves “I can’t believe it’s not butter”. Are they the same thing?
5. I have high blood pressure so I was thinking of eliminating the salt.
6. I don’t have any condensed soups but would a chicken noodle soup and an 8 ounce package of mushrooms be OK?
7. The date on my sour cream container is 7/1/14 – Can I still use it for this recipe?
8. What kind of vegetables are in a frozen mix? My kids don’t like broccoli.
9. Can I use orzo instead of egg noodles? They taste the same, right?
10. I ran out of crackers, can I use salad croutons?
11. I already know the answer to the last ingredient – “I can’t believe it’s not butter!”
I’d like to make this for dinner, the family will be home in an hour, I’d like to start in about 5 minutes. I’ll wait for a response. Oh, and my last question? How will this taste with all the changes!
Love to You, Trish
Ah 😉 Brilliant 😉 I loved that post.
What’s the matter with you?
Oh this was said in jest. There was a post that went around that this went with.
Wonderful, easy and very yummy option for dinner! Just made it tonight and both me and my hubby are happily full. I had all the fixings on hand and wanted a new way to use some cooked chicken breasts that I had cooked in the crock pot. (That’s my tip: 3-4 skinless boneless chicken breasts covered in chicken stock on slow and low….perfect chicken that shreads with a fork)
Thank you so much for the recipe!!
Really? Instead of asking about all the changes, just do it and see for yourself.
Do you have a favorite casserole you love?
Hi Stephanie, I need your help, please. I love Stouffer’s Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake but don’t have a clue how to duplicate it.
I would love their recipe, if you happen to have it or if you can point me in the right direction to find it.
I’m new to your website but I’m loving it thus far. I’m not a great cook but can follow a simple recipe.
Thanks for reading my reply – and appreciate any help you can give..
I am completely unfamiliar with this recipe. I am sorry I can’t be of more help.