Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a quick and easy weeknight dinner the family will love. It’s a creamy Southern classic that’s loaded with protein-rich chicken, sprinkled with delightful poppy seeds, and covered in a blanket of crispy, buttery Ritz crackers. Makes a great freezer meal as well!
An Easy, Comforting Chicken Casserole
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a flavorful, hearty dish with a buttery, crispy Ritz cracker topping. It’s a comfort meal that’s hard to resist!
I love a good casserole – or “hotdish”, as we like to say in Minnesota. My tater tot hotdish, with its rich and savory (and easy!) homemade gravy, has been a longtime family and reader favorite.
This latest recipe is an easy chicken casserole that comes together quickly, which makes it perfect for busy weeknights. It’s a creamy Southern classic that’s loaded with protein-rich chicken, sprinkled with delightful poppy seeds, and covered in a blanket of crushed Ritz crackers.
It’s great for freezing and making ahead. If you participate in meal trains or like to gift a meal to a new mom or sick friend, this is an excellent option as all they’d need to do is pop it in the oven.
Like poppy seeds? Also check out my lemon poppy seed dressing, citrus-poppy seed cookies, and almond poppy seed bread with lemon glaze!
What You’ll Need
Poppy seed chicken requires just a handful of main ingredients, plus a few seasonings. Scroll down to the recipe box for measurements.
- Chicken breasts – Roast (or bake or grill or boil) ahead of time and then shred into bite-size pieces. This is a great way to use leftover chicken breast.
- Cream of chicken soup – Part of the flavorful, creamy base for this casserole.
- Cream cheese – Thickens the base, plus adds rich flavor and creamy texture.
- Parmesan cheese – Every casserole deserves some cheese! Parmesan offers delicious salty flavor.
- Seasonings – Poppy seeds (obviously), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper give this chicken casserole lots of flavor.
- Crushed crackers – Ritz is a great option but feel free to use any preferred brand of similar buttery crackers.
- Unsalted butter – Drizzle this over the crackers to create a rich, crunchy topping.
Recipe Variations
Want to turn this dish into a heartier meal? Or maybe add some veggies? Go for it! Here are a few ways to customize your poppy seed chicken:
- Stir in some veggies. Broccoli and carrots, cut small, are a great addition. So are peas. Or some minced onion and garlic. Mushrooms would also be good.
- Add some rice. For a heartier dish, add a layer of cooked rice before adding the chicken mixture. Or simply serve this over cooked rice.
- Add herbs. I love fresh herbs, for both flavor and fresh green color. For this casserole, I’d suggest chopped parsley, thyme, rosemary, or basil. Use just one or a combination. You could also use dried herbs.
- Make it cheesy. My family will never turn down cheese. We often add 2 cups of shredded medium cheddar…delish!
- Sub the cream cheese. For a bit lighter dish with a little different flavor profile, sub the cream cheese for sour cream.
- Use rotisserie chicken. Don’t have time to cook up the chicken? Just grab a rotisserie chicken instead!
How to Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
This easy chicken casserole recipe comes together in just a few steps.
- Combine the ingredients. Shred the chicken, then add all of the ingredients except for the butter and crackers. Transfer mixture to a baking dish.
- Make the topping. Toss the crushed crackers with melted butter, then spread the crackers over the chicken mixture.
- Bake. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the edges are bubbly and the crackers are golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this poppy seed chicken with some fresh green veggies. Asparagus is a favorite. I also like a brussels sprouts salad or broccoli salad. A simple green side salad is another great option.
For a heartier main course, you could even serve this casserole over rice. Or cauliflower rice, for a lighter option. Pasta would also be good.
How to Store Leftovers
Leftovers should be covered tightly and refrigerated. They’ll keep well for up to 4 days.
If you’re just reheating a single portion, the microwave is perfect. If you’re reheating the whole pan, cover with foil and pop it back in the oven until heated through.
Can I Freeze Poppy Seed Chicken?
Yes, this poppy seed chicken dish makes a great freezer meal! Prepare as directed, but stop before adding the Ritz topping. Cover tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn. If I know I’ll be freezing this, I like to prepare it right in those aluminum pans that are easy to freeze and store.
Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then add the cracker topping just before baking.
More Easy Casserole Recipes:
- Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
- Leftover Turkey Casserole
- Sour Cream and Onion Tuna Noodle Casserole
- Cheesy Beef and Sweet Potato Taco Casserole
- Spicy Lasagna Hotdish
- Spaghetti Hotdish
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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
- 3-4 cooked chicken breasts roasted or grilled or boiled and shredded
- 2 cans 10.5 ounces each cream of chicken soup
- 8 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- 1 cup crushed buttery crackers such as Ritz
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- In a large bowl, shred the chicken breasts.
- Add cream of chicken soup, parmesan cheese, cream cheese, salt,
pepper, onion, garlic powder, and poppy seeds – then fold together until
thoroughly combined. - Melt the butter in a small bowl and use a bit of it to lightly grease the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking dish. Add crushed crackers to the remaining melted butter and toss to coat evenly.
- Transfer chicken mixture to baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
- Sprinkle buttered crackers over the top of the chicken mixture.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until edges are bubbly and crackers are golden brown.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
