Poppy Seed Chicken Recipe

4.25 from 8 votes

Loaded up with tender chunks of chicken, creamy sauce, and a crunchy cracker topping, this old-fashioned poppy seed chicken casserole is true comfort food.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 366kcal

Author: Becky Hardin

Equipment

9x13-inch Baking Dish

Ingredients

10 ounces cream of chicken soup 1 can, undiluted*
1½ cups sour cream
½ lemon juiced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast **
2 cups crushed round buttery crackers such as Ritz
¼ cup unsalted butter ½ stick, melted
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
cooked white rice optional, for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the inside of a 9x13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the soup, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
10 ounces cream of chicken soup, 1½ cups sour cream, ½ lemon, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Fold in the chopped chicken.
4 cups chopped cooked chicken breast
Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
In a separate bowl, stir together the crushed crackers, melted butter, and poppy seeds.
2 cups crushed round buttery crackers, ¼ cup unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
Sprinkle the mixture over the chicken.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbly. Serve plain or over rice.
cooked white rice

Video

Notes

*You can use cream of mushroom, cream of celery, or condensed cheddar cheese soup in place of the cream of chicken soup.

**You can use any type of chicken you prefer. I like to grab a rotisserie chicken and shred it, but you could also use cooked boneless, skinless chicken breasts or baked chicken thighs.

Tips:

Add in leftover vegetables to bulk up the dish. Corn, peas, and mushrooms are great additions.
Stir some grated cheese into the filling, and sprinkle a layer of grated cheese on top before adding the crackers.
To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free buttery crackers or breadcrumbs and a gluten-free condensed soup.
Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Wait to put the cracker topping on until just before baking.

Storage: Store poppy seed chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition