Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole with Cheddar, Peas, and Panko Topping Recipe
This comforting Chicken Noodle Casserole combines tender chunk chicken, creamy soup, mayonnaise, milk, cheese, and veggies tossed with egg noodles and topped with buttery panko breadcrumbs. Baked to bubbly, golden perfection, this casserole is a hearty, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 (12.5 ounce) cans chunk chicken breast, drained (or about 3 cups of store-bought rotisserie chicken, diced)
- 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 onion, finely diced (optional; alternatively, 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups frozen peas and carrots
- 12 ounce package egg noodles, cooked and drained
Topping
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 stick salted butter (1/2 cup), melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the drained chunk chicken, cream of chicken soup, mayonnaise, milk, finely diced onion (if using), shredded cheddar cheese, and frozen peas and carrots. Stir all ingredients together until well combined.
- Add Noodles: Gently fold in the cooked and drained egg noodles into the chicken mixture, ensuring everything is evenly distributed without breaking the noodles.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the panko bread crumbs evenly over the top of the casserole. Then drizzle or pour the melted butter evenly over the breadcrumbs to help them brown and crisp during baking.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Remove from oven, let cool slightly, then serve warm and enjoy this hearty and cheesy chicken noodle casserole.
Notes
- If you prefer, substitute 1/2 diced onion with 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes to save prep time.
- Using rotisserie chicken instead of canned chicken provides a fresher, more flavorful dish.
- For a creamier casserole, you can add a bit more milk or soup to adjust consistency before baking.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated; bake right before serving.
- Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: chicken casserole, chicken noodle casserole, cheesy chicken bake, egg noodle casserole, comfort food, easy dinner, baked chicken noodles
