Sure thing! Here’s a full, expanded recipe write-up just the way you like it 😄
🎶🧀 Dolly Parton’s Famous 5-Ingredient Chicken Casserole 🧀🎶
A Southern Hug in a Baking Dish!
📝 Introduction
If comfort had a soundtrack, Dolly Parton would be singing lead — and this casserole would be playing backup! This 5-ingredient wonder is creamy, cheesy, soulful, and made for busy weeknights when you want big flavor with little effort. It’s the kind of dish you bring to potlucks, family gatherings, or lazy Sundays when all you need is a warm, golden-bubbly hug straight from the oven.
🧾 Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie or leftover roasted works best!)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 sleeve buttery Ritz crackers, crushed (about 1 ½ cups)
(Optional but delicious: 2 tbsp melted butter for extra crunch in the topping)
🍳 Instructions / Methods
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, mix together cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Fold in the shredded chicken until everything is coated in creamy goodness.
- Spread the mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine crushed crackers with melted butter (if using), then sprinkle evenly over the top.
- Finish with remaining cheddar cheese on top for that signature cheesy melt.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Serve hot, straight from the dish — no fancy plating required!
📜 History
This style of casserole has roots in classic Southern church suppers and Depression-era cooking, where stretchable ingredients like canned soup and crackers became pantry heroes. Dolly Parton, the queen of Southern hospitality, has often shared recipes like this in her cookbooks and interviews — quick, cozy, and made to feed a crowd.
💪 Benefits
- ✅ Only 5 ingredients — stress-free cooking!
- ✅ Kid-friendly & crowd-approved
- ✅ Budget-friendly, using pantry staples
- ✅ Freezer-friendly — prep ahead and bake later
- ✅ Customizable — add veggies, bacon, or spices if you feel fancy!
🧪 Formation (How It All Comes Together)
Creamy base + tender chicken + cheesy glue + buttery crunch = layers of soft-meets-crispy perfection in every bite.
❤️ Lovers of This Dish
- Busy moms who need dinner in a flash
- Southern soul food fans
- Cheese addicts (you know who you are)
- Anyone who thinks love is best served in a casserole dish
🍽 Nutrition (Approx. per serving, 6 servings)
- Calories: ~380
- Protein: 22g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fat: 26g
(Values vary depending on cheese & cracker brands)
🎤 Conclusion
Like a Dolly Parton song, this casserole is simple, heartfelt, and unforgettable. It’s not trying to be fancy — it just wants to make you feel good. One bite and you’ll understand why these old-school dishes never go out of style.
Would you like a spicy version, a vegetarian twist, or a printable recipe card next? 😊