Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is an old fashioned recipe made with only 6 ingredients. It's creamy, savory, and creates its own delicious gravy! Enjoy this comforting casserole for busy weeknights, potluck dinners and Sunday suppers.
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A Family Favorite!
- Quick and Easy - mix it up and bake in just minutes!
- Delicious Flavor - you can't beat the flavor of creamy chicken and gravy topped with buttery cracker crumbs.
- Great Comfort Food - the whole family will love this casserole and beg for more.
- Budget Friendly - with only 6 simple ingredients, this dish is truly affordable!
This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole recipe is a good old southern classic that will warm you up from the inside out!
Once you taste poppyseed chicken, it will make you want a second helping! The sour cream creates the most flavorful gravy, and the poppy seeds set it apart from any casserole you've ever tasted.
If you love comfort food, try my Cowboy Cornbread Casserole and Crack Chicken Casserole that are both loaded with amazing flavor!
Only 6 Ingredients
- sour cream - the full fat version makes a creamier dish, but you can use light sour cream or greek yogurt if desired
- cream of chicken soup - can use reduced fat if needed
- poppy seeds - look in the spice section in the grocery store for poppy seeds
- rotisserie chicken meat - leftover rotisserie works great
- buttery Ritz crackers - any type of cracker will do, but Ritz works best
- melted butter - I used salted butter for more flavor
Make it in 3 Easy Steps
1 - Mix sour cream and soup together in a large bowl. Add poppy seeds and chopped chicken. Stir well and pour into a 13 X 9 inch greased baking dish.
2 - Crush the crackers in a plastic bag or blender and combine with melted butter. Sprinkle crackers over entire mixture.
3 - Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F until crust is golden brown and casserole is bubbly.
Tips and Tricks
Stick with What Works: I use a can of cream of chicken soup in this recipe since the old school version is still the best in my book. There are different ways to make it, but I like to stick with what works best.
Use Rotisserie Chicken: I'm a big fan of using rotisserie meat whenever possible. It cuts the cooking in half, and it also produces tender bites every single time. You can boil chicken breasts if you like, but it won't taste as tender and juicy.
Go with Budget Friendly: Since there are only 6 ingredients in this creamy casserole, it's my number one go-to recipe whenever I'm needing comfort food in a hurry. It also fits the criteria to make into one of my top 10 favorites...it's southern...it's affordable...and it's delicious!
Customize It!
Personalize this poppy seed chicken recipe by changing up the ingredients!
- Add Cheese - sprinkle in some cheddar, gouda, or parmesan cheese.
- Use Dijon Mustard - add a little kick with a splash of mustard.
- Substitute Soups - use cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery instead.
- Try Another Topper - Panko breadcrumbs, crushed potato chips or crunchy stuffing mixed with butter are great substitutes.
- Add Egg Noodles or Rice - mix in 1 cup of noodles or white rice.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it up to a day in advance. Wait to add the topping just before baking. Add a few extra minutes to the cooking time if you're baking it straight from the refrigerator.
The casserole is done when the creamy sauce is bubbly throughout and the cracker topping has turned golden brown.
Absolutely! Mixing in vegetables like peas, carrots, or broccoli can add color and nutrition. Simply add them when you mix everything together. If the veggies are frozen, rinse them in hot water to defrost before using.
Serving Ideas
- Roasted Vegetables - serve with roasted broccoli or caramelized brussels sprouts
- Green Beans - goes great with greasy beans from the garden
- Mashed Potatoes - the gravy tastes really good over garlic mashed potatoes
- Rice Pilaf - white rice or curry rice salad makes a great side
- Garlic Bread - cheese stuffed garlic bread is a flavorful accompaniment
- Garden Salad - serve with a rainbow salad or strawberry pecan salad
Storage Tips
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheat leftovers in a 350ºF oven for 15 minutes, or until bubbly and heated throughout.
- Freeze before baking for best results for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Thaw frozen casserole before baking in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in recipe card.
Recipe Card
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
*See notes in blog post for detailed tips, photos and instructions.
Ingredients
- 16 oz. carton sour cream
- 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken meat (chopped)
- 1 sleeve buttery round crackers (I use Ritz)
- ½ stick butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Mix sour cream and soup together in a large bowl.
- Add poppy seeds and chopped rotisserie chicken. Stir well and pour into a 13 X 9 inch greased baking dish.
- Crush the crackers in a plastic bag or blender and combine with melted butter.
- Sprinkle crackers over chicken mixture.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown and casserole is bubbly.
Notes
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole tastes great served with steamed rice and Roasted Broccoli.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freeze before baking for best results for up to 3 months in an airtight container.
- Thaw frozen casserole before baking in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in recipe card. Reheat leftovers in a 350ºF oven for 15 minutes, or until bubbly and heated throughout.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is an auto generated estimate.
Tried this Recipe and Loved It? ❤️ Please scroll down and leave a *STAR* review!
Awesome recipe!
Thank you Belinda! How very kind of you! 🙂
One of my favorites❤️
It's my go-to comfort food!