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Ritz Cracker Chicken is the creamy, comforting dump-and-go dinner that tastes like the casserole grandma made, only easier, and I started a batch in the slow cooker one hectic Wednesday so it was buttery and tender by the time Maddie and Lizzie finished homework. If you love our cheesy chicken dinners, this five-ingredient slow cooker version is pure comfort.
A creamy soup-and-sour-cream sauce and a buttery Ritz cracker topping turn plain chicken breasts into the coziest hands-off meal.
Ritz Cracker Chicken Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 6 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 738kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Creamy, buttery, savory comfort food with a Ritz crunch
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our slow cooker hot dogs
Quick Answer
Mix cream of chicken soup with sour cream, and stir melted butter into crushed Ritz crackers. Place chicken breasts in a greased slow cooker, pour the creamy sauce over the top, and sprinkle on the buttery cracker crumbs. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours until the chicken is tender, then garnish with parsley and serve.
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Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The slow cooker keeps the chicken juicy. Low and slow cooking in a creamy sauce means the chicken breasts come out tender, never dry.
- Cream of chicken plus sour cream is a shortcut sauce. Two ingredients make a rich, tangy, savory sauce with zero effort.
- Buttery Ritz crackers add the best crunch and flavor. That salty, buttery cracker topping is what makes this dish taste like a classic comfort casserole.
- It is a true dump-and-go dinner. Five minutes of prep, then the slow cooker does all the work while you go about your day.
- Just a handful of ingredients. Pantry staples and chicken breasts are all you need for a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal.
- It is endlessly adaptable. Serve it over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes to soak up all that creamy sauce.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is the ultimate easy, creamy comfort-food dinner.
- Just five simple ingredients and five minutes of prep.
- Hands-off slow cooker cooking for busy days.
Key Ingredients
Here is what goes into this Ritz cracker chicken. It is a short, comforting list.
- Chicken breasts: boneless, skinless breasts stay juicy in the slow cooker (thighs work too).
- Cream of chicken soup: the creamy, savory base of the easy sauce.
- Sour cream: adds tang and extra richness to the sauce.
- Ritz crackers: the buttery, salty topping that makes this dish; crush them coarsely.
- Butter: melted and tossed with the crackers so the topping is golden and rich.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This dish is easy to make your own. Here are a few ideas.
- Use chicken thighs: boneless thighs stay extra juicy and work great in place of breasts.
- Try a different cracker: buttery Club crackers or Townhouse crackers also work well.
- Add cheese: stir shredded cheddar into the sauce for an even richer dish.
- Bake it instead: layer everything in a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees until bubbly for an oven Ritz cracker chicken casserole.
- Add veggies: stir in steamed broccoli or peas to make it a one-pot meal.
- Serve it saucy: spoon it over our mashed potatoes or rice to catch the creamy sauce.
How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken
- Mix the cream of chicken soup and sour cream until combined.
- Stir the melted butter into the crushed Ritz crackers.
- Place the chicken breasts in a greased slow cooker.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle on the cracker mixture.
- Cover and cook on low 6 to 7 hours, or high 3 to 4 hours, until tender.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Grease the slow cooker well so the creamy sauce does not stick or scorch at the edges.
- Crush the crackers coarsely so the topping keeps some buttery crunch.
- Do not overcook. Chicken breasts can dry out, so check at 6 hours on low.
- Use full-fat sour cream for the richest, most stable sauce.
- Add fresh crackers at the end if you want extra crunch on top, since the slow cooker softens them.
- Shred or slice the chicken into the sauce for an easy spoon-over-rice version.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Ritz cracker chicken is made to be served over something that soaks up the creamy sauce. Spoon it over rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes, and add a simple green veggie on the side.
It is the definition of cozy comfort food, perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, and feeding a hungry family. Pair it with roasted carrots, green beans, or a crisp salad to round out the plate.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the creamy sauce.
Ritz Cracker Chicken FAQs
Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great swap and actually stay even juicier than breasts in the slow cooker. Use about the same weight. The cook time stays similar, though thighs are very forgiving if they go a little longer.
Absolutely. Ritz give the signature buttery, salty flavor, but other buttery round crackers like Club or Townhouse work well too. You can even use crushed butter crackers or a mix. Just keep the crumbs coarse for the best crunch.
Yes. Layer the chicken, creamy sauce, and buttery cracker topping in a greased baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 to 45 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the top is golden, for a baked Ritz cracker chicken casserole.
It is wonderful spooned over rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes to catch the creamy sauce. Add a simple side like roasted carrots, green beans, broccoli, or a crisp salad to round out the meal.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce since it thickens as it chills.
Definitely. Stir shredded cheddar into the sauce for a cheesier dish, or add steamed broccoli, peas, or mushrooms to make it a one-pot meal. It is a flexible base that takes well to easy add-ins.
Keep the slow cooker going with our monterey chicken for another easy chicken dinner.
If crackers make the best coating, parmesan and panko come in a close second in our baked chicken tenders.
For a wine kissed chicken dinner, try our slow cooker chicken marsala with thighs next.
Ritz Cracker Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10.5 ounce can of cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups sour cream
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 1 & 1/2 cups crushed ritz crackers
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley optional
Instructions
- Mix cream of chicken and sour cream in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.10.5 ounce can of cream of chicken soup, 2 cups sour cream
- Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl and mix together the crushed ritz crackers. Set aside.1/2 cup salted butter, 1 & 1/2 cups crushed ritz crackers
- Spray the inside of a 8-quart slow cooker with cooking spray and place the chicken breasts in the bottom.4 boneless skinless chicken breast
- Pour the soup mixture over top of the chicken. Spread around with a spoon so it’s evenly coated.
- Sprinkle the crumb mixture over top, and coat evenly.
- Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Sprinkle parsley over top when done and serve.1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
Notes
- Make sure your chicken breasts are even in thickness for even cooking.
- Be generous with your cracker crumbs for a good, crunchy coating.
- Don’t rush – let the slow cooker do its job to achieve tender chicken.
- If you’re short on time, you can cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- Make extra – this chicken is perfect for meal prep and freezes well!
- Serve over rice or egg noodles to complete the meal.
Nutrition
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Loved tge chicken with ritz crackers