Chicken Noodle Casserole with Crumble (Printable)

Tender chicken and egg noodles in creamy sauce with golden buttery crumble topping

# What You Need:

→ For the Casserole

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 12 oz egg noodles
03 - 1 cup frozen peas
04 - 1 cup carrots, diced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup celery, diced
08 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
09 - 1 cup sour cream
10 - 1/2 cup milk
11 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ For the Crumble Topping

15 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
16 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
17 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
18 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook egg noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic; sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
04 - In a large bowl, mix sautéed vegetables, chicken, peas, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, cheddar cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add cooked noodles and fold gently until evenly coated.
05 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
06 - In a separate bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, melted butter, and parsley. Mix until evenly moistened.
07 - Sprinkle crumble mixture evenly over the casserole surface.
08 - Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbling around the edges.
09 - Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The golden crumble topping creates the most satisfying crunch against the tender noodles beneath
  • It feeds a crowd and even better, tastes just as good the next day for lunch
  • This is the dish that finally taught me comfort food can be sophisticated too
02 -
  • Overbaking the noodles before assembling makes the final casserole gummy, so pull them early
  • The sauce thickens as it bakes, so it might look loose going into the oven but will set perfectly
  • Letting it rest is the hardest part but absolutely essential for clean serving portions
03 -
  • Use freshly ground black pepper instead of pre-ground for a more aromatic, bright flavor
  • Grate your own Parmesan from a wedge instead of using the pre-grated kind for better melting
  • Spread the topping all the way to the edges so every serving gets that golden crunch

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