If you're looking for a comforting, crowd-pleasing dinner that’s simple and full of flavor, look no further than this easy poppy seed chicken casserole. This dish is a family favorite, and for good reason! Tender chicken, a creamy, savory sauce, and a buttery, crunchy, totally addictive topping all come together in one cozy casserole that’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions. If you don't already have this dish in your recipe box, you're going to want it. Let’s dive into how to make this ultimate comfort food!
Poppy seed chicken is a satisfying dish perfect for family dinners, potlucks, holiday gatherings, or taking dinner to a friend who is under the weather. Its creamy texture and hearty flavors make it a timeless classic, and it’s great for serving to a crowd.
I first ate poppy seed chicken made by my mother-in-law over 20 years ago, and I have made it dozens of times since then. Literally every time I make it for a potluck or for someone new they ask for the recipe. It's that good.
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Why is Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole So Amazing?
- Make-Ahead Meal: Super easy to make ahead and keeps well in the fridge!
- Accessible Ingredients: Short list of pantry ingredients you probably already have.
- Convenience: Rotisserie chicken compatible.
- Easy Prep and Bake: 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes in the oven gets dinner on the table fast.
- Affordable and Tasty: Packs a ton of flavor for your grocery dollar.
- Family Friendly: Even the pickiest eaters will come back for seconds.
Ingredients
Poppy seed chicken requires a short list of ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry.
- Diced chicken: Roast your own or use a rotisserie chicken.
- Sour cream: Adds a delicious tangy creaminess to the sauce.
- Cream of chicken soup: Convenient and flavorful, creates a base for the sauce.
- Parmesan cheese: Punch up the flavor with my favorite cheese. Freshly grated is best.
- Ritz crackers: Crunchy and addictive topping!
- Butter: Combines with crackers and poppy seeds to create a golden brown crust on top.
- Poppy seeds: Hella crunchy and adds nutty flavor!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
With 15 minutes of prep and 30 minutes in the oven, this easy casserole is a breeze to throw together on a weeknight.
- Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C). Combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and Parmesan in a bowl.
- Add the diced chicken to the soup mixture and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Spread the soup/chicken mixture evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Crush the Ritz crackers into crumbs. I like to just crush the cracker sleeves with my hands before even opening them, or put the crackers into a ziplock bag and crush with a mallet or rolling pin.
5. Melt the butter and combine crushed crackers, butter, and poppy seeds in a bowl. Stir to combine.
6. Spread cracker/poppy seed mixture evenly over the top of the chicken/soup layer in the baking dish.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cracker topping is golden brown and the filling is hot all the way through and bubbling around the edges. If desired, cover the casserole with aluminum foil until the last 5 minutes of baking to prevent too much browning. Serve with rice or noodles.
Substitutions
- Chicken: Rotisserie chicken is a great substitute here, or throw in some tuna if you're feeling adventurous. Diced leftover turkey is also a great sub for chicken.
- Spices: Use your family's favorite flavor profile to jazz it up.
- Vegetables: Add some broccoli, peas, or another green vegetable along with the chicken for extra fiber and nutrition.
Storage
Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Poppy seed chicken casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Store the cracker topping in a separate container from the chicken/soup mixture and add just before baking to keep the topping from getting soggy. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed for fresh.
Make Ahead
To make a day ahead, assemble the chicken and sauce mixture in a casserole dish and store covered in the fridge. Add the cracker topping just before baking. This will keep the topping from getting soggy.
FAQ
I love to serve this casserole with white rice or noodles and a green vegetable or salad.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with poppy seed chicken casserole:
Easy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- 9x13-inch casserole dish
- measuring cups and spoons
- cutting board and knife to dice the chicken
- can opener to open the can of cream of chicken soup
- aluminum foil optional, to cover the casserole while baking and prevent too much browning
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked chicken diced (about 3-4 chicken breasts)
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- 2 cups Ritz crackers (about 1-½ sleeves)
- ½ cup butter melted (1 stick)
- 3 tablespoons poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃).
- Combine cream of chicken soup, sour cream, Parmesan, and diced chicken in a bowl.
- Spread the chicken/soup mixture evenly in the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Crush the Ritz crackers into medium to fine crumbs (I like to leave a few bigger chunks).
- Melt the butter and add crushed crackers and poppy seeds to the bowl. Stir to combine.
- Spread cracker mixture evenly over the top of the chicken/soup layer in the baking dish.
- Bake at for 25-30 minutes or until cracker topping is evenly lightly browned and the casserole is heated through and bubbling around the edges.
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