This baked chicken noodle casserole will be on the dinner menu rotation all year long!
This cozy creamy casserole uses a shortcut to create a belly-warming meal in no time at all! Chicken, noodles, and peas are tossed in a creamy sauce and baked until bubbly.
Best Ever Chicken Noodle Casserole
Who doesn’t love chicken noodle soup? And who doesn’t love a hearty casserole? Two favorites are combined into one easy meal!
This casserole is made with pantry ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
It makes great use of leftovers from meats to veggies, it’s the perfect way to clean out the fridge.
This casserole can easily be prepared in advance with a variety of substitutions to use whatever you have on hand! Ready in 30 minutes it is a great weeknight meal.
Ingredients and Variations
Keep the basics like cream of chicken soup and the meat, but feel free to substitute the add ins depending on what you have on hand!
PASTA Try substituting any medium pasta like fusilli, penne or even tortellini for the egg noodles.
VEGGIES Add any frozen veggies to the mix.
CHEESE Shredded mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar cheese adds a new flavor twist! For some extra kick try adding Monterey or pepper jack!
How to Make Chicken Noodle Casserole
This easy comfort food favorite is ready in two steps!
- Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish.
- Sprinkle on toppings and bake.
It’s that easy to make a delicious weeknight meal!
Tips for Success
- The best tips for making casseroles is to cook the pasta until it is just al dente. It will keep cooking in the oven.
- Always start with pre-cooked meat.
- If substituting fresh veggies, add them to the pasta water during the last few minutes until tender. This saves the step of cooking them.
- Be generous with the cheese, nothing looks or tastes better than a super cheesy casserole!
How to Freeze Casseroles
Freezing casseroles is a great way to have a future dinner ready at the last minute or a potluck meal to go. Just be sure not to freeze a casserole with raw meat in it. Here’s an easy method for freezing any kind of casserole!
- Line the bottom of a casserole dish with aluminum foil and have it overlap by at least 6 inches on each side.
- Assemble the casserole as directed. Cover and chill the casserole overnight in the refrigerator.
- Wrap the casserole tightly in plastic wrap and label it with the date on it.
- Place casserole in the freezer. Once frozen, the foil can be lifted out of the pan so your pan can be used again!
Our Favorite Casseroles
- Cheesy Ham Casserole – home-cooked comfort
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole – with Alfredo sauce
- Baked Penne Casserole – a quick family meal
- Homemade Mac and Cheese Casserole – rich & creamy
- Hamburger Casserole – quick & easy meal
- Creamy Turkey Casserole – budget-friendly
Did you enjoy this Chicken Noodle Casserole? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Easy Chicken Noodle Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry egg noodles
- 2 cups cooked chicken diced
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup or cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup frozen peas or frozen vegetables
Topping
- 1 tablespoon butter melted
- 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Cook egg noodles al dente (firm) according to package directions. Drain well.
- Combine egg noodles, chicken, soup, milk, and vegetables in 2qt casserole dish. Top with cheese if using.
- Combine topping ingredients in a small bowl and sprinkle over the casserole.
- Bake 20 minutes or until bubbly. Broil 1 minute to brown topping if needed.
Notes
- Any pasta can be used in this casserole. Be sure to cook it until it is just al dente. It will keep cooking in the oven.
- Always start with pre-cooked meat.
- Easily substitute the peas for any vegetable you have on hand.
- If substituting fresh veggies, add them to the pasta water during the last few minutes until tender. This saves the step of cooking them.
- 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese can be added to the sauce if desired.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Casserole, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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Can I used pre grilled/cooked chicken?
Hi Abigail, for this recipe we recommend using cooked chicken so you can use pre-grilled, pre-cooked, or even rotisserie chicken! Whatever works best for you.
Made this today for the first time It was tasty but was on the dry side. Not at all creamy. If I make it again, I will add more liquid.
Sorry to hear that, Rose. You can increase the milk or add additional cheese or condensed soup to this recipe to increase the creamy-ness of the sauce.
Made this casserole last night. It was great!
We both thought it was great! Significant other loved it, especially considering it was a chicken dish and a casserole, neither of which he’s too fond of. It was quick and easy. I baked 3 chicken breasts with some Seasoning Salt & Montreal Steak Seasoning. Used farfalle pasta, cream of mushroom w/garlic and mixed vegees as that’s what I had on hand. Threw a little grated cheddar on top and then a little more with the bread crumb mixture.