This Chicken Noodle Casserole is easy to make with canned soup or with my homemade cream of mushroom! It’s got a delicious cheese sauce with sour cream, broccoli, and juicy chicken. This makes a great make-ahead meal and freezer food!
Try my Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole next!
Chicken Noodle Casserole
If you’re familiar with The Cozy Cook, you probably know that casserole recipes are pretty common around here.
This chicken noodle casserole is a classic comfort food. No fancy ingredients, and very easy to customize.
You can use peas and carrots instead of broccoli, use leftover rotisserie chicken, and play around with different cheese options.
BONUS: This is a great make-ahead recipe and freezer food.
Ingredients
See recipe card at the end of this post for ingredient quantities and full written instructions
- Rotini- One of the best pastas for casseroles. They hold their shape and grip the sauce well.
- Chicken- I cook fresh chicken in this recipe but 2 cups of rotisserie or leftover chicken works well too!
- Seasonings: Italian Seasoning, Garlic Salt, and Pepper.
- Olive Oil- Vegetable or canola work as well
- Cream of Mushroom Soup– Use canned soup or make my homemade version! You can also use canned or homemade cream of chicken soup.
- Sour Cream
- Milk- Any kind
- Broccoli Florets- See below about subbing frozen broccoli
- Cheese: Sharp White Cheddar for the sauce and Regular Cheddar for the top
- French’s Crispy Fried Onions
How to Make It
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Toss, and add the broccoli. Continue to cook until chicken is cooked through, about 3 more minutes. Remove from heat.
Add sour cream, milk, cream of mushroom soup, and sharp white cheddar to the pot and toss to combine.
Cook pasta for 1 minute less than al dente (refer to box for cooking time). Drain, and add to the pot with the sauce. Use a silicone spatula to gently toss to combine.
If the pot isn’t oven safe, transfer it to the lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish and top with regular cheddar cheese. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Remove cover and top with crispy fried onions. Bake for 8 more minutes. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese.
Using Frozen Broccoli
- Using a 16 oz. bag of frozen broccoli (and/or cauliflower) can also be used. Just be sure you thaw and pat it dry!
- Frozen broccoli is already blanched so you don’t need to cook it prior to mixing the casserole together unless you like your broccoli on the softer side.
- Frozen peas, green beans, or carrots make a great addition too. Thaw them out prior to baking or increase covered baking time by 5-7 minutes.
Make Ahead Method
- Follow assembly instructions and let the casserole completely cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add 15 minutes to covered baking time.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 14-inch oven-safe nonstick pan. Perfect for preparing this recipe without having to transfer it to a casserole dish.
- 9 x 13 inch casserole dish– an Alternative baking vessel that’s the perfect size for most casseroles.
- Silicone Spatula– Makes it easy to gently incorporate the pasta into the sauce without breaking the noodles.
Try These Next
-
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
-
- Chicken Tetrazzini
-
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
-
- Chicken Caesar Pasta
-
- Crock Pot Roast with Gravy
-
- Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits
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Chicken Noodle Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups diced chicken, about 2 small chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon Garlic Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 3 cups dry Rotini
- 10.5 oz. cream of mushroom soup, (cream of chicken works well too)
- 8 oz. sour cream, equal to one cup
- 1/2 cup milk, any kind
- 2 cups sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup regular cheddar, shredded
- 1 cup French’s crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Season the chicken with 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 3/4 tsp. garlic salt, and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
- Heat 2 Tbsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes.
- Toss the chicken and add the broccoli. Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Cook the rotini for 1 minute less than al dente, refer to package for cooking time.
- Meanwhile, add the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, milk, and 2 cups sharp white cheddar to the pot with the chicken & broccoli. Stir to combine.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the pot. Use a silicone spatula to gently mix until combined.
- If the pot isn't oven safe, transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and add the pasta mixture.
- Top with 1 cup regular cheddar. Cover and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove cover and add crispy fried onions. Bake uncovered for 8 minutes. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese.
Video
Notes
- Using a 16 oz. bag of frozen broccoli can also be used. Just be sure you thaw and pat it dry!
- Frozen broccoli is already blanched so there's no need to cook it in the pot with the chicken unless you prefer very soft broccoli.
- Frozen peas, green beans, or carrots make a great addition too. Thaw them out prior to baking or increase covered baking time by 5-7 minutes.
Make Ahead Method
- Follow assembly instructions and let the casserole completely cool. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Add 15 minutes to covered baking time.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Hey! If we use the homemade version of your cream of mushroom soup would we just add one batch from that recipie?
Hey Alex! My homemade recipe makes 16 ounces and a store bought can is 10.5 ounces, so you’ll use almost all of my homemade version but not quite all of it! 🙂 It’s really flexible though, you can go with whatever consistency you like!
Soooo good!!! I used the whole box of rotini and 4 cups of diced chicken. So I added a second can of cream of mushroom and a little more milk. It was delicious.
I’m so happy that you liked it Alexis! Nice job making those modifications to increase the portion size with the pasta/chicken! Sounds delicious!! 🙂 -Stephanie
I made this using ground beef and it’s out of this world!
Hey Martha! I am so happy to hear that! I’ve never made this with ground beef before, I will definitely try that! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
I tried this recipe and it was a hit everyone loved it !
I’m so happy to hear that Christina! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!❤️
Has anyone tried this in a crockpot??
I have make this recipe 5-10 times. It is delicious. Spices on chicken and cheese on noodles is amazing. I always add extra chicken and broccoli. Always a crowd pleaser. Also While stirring the Casserole ingredients together I would suggest a large bowl. This casserole is always eaten, and I am always asked, “where did it all go”
Hi Megan! I am so happy to hear that, thank you so much for taking the time to share your tips and for leaving this review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie
Can you use gluten free noodles?
Hi Jenny! Sure, that should work just fine!
Could you substitute cooked rice for the noodles?
You sure can!
My kids gobbled this down! Was a great way to use up some leftover chicken and crispy onions I had laying around.
I’m so happy to hear that Diana!! So glad you liked it. This one never lasts long in my house either! Thank you SO much for taking the time to leave a review! -Stephanie