Poppy Seed Chicken

Name: Poppy Seed Chicken
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 5 cups diced cooked chicken; 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup; 1 cup sour cream; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning; 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers ((1 1/2 sleeves)); 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted; 1/2 Tablespoon poppy seeds

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This Poppy Seed Chicken is a warm, comforting and creamy casserole dinner recipe that’s ready in under 40 minutes. An easy, family favorite meal!

A SIMPLE CHICKEN CASSEROLE DINNER

If you love easy to toss together casserole dishes for family dinners like I do, you are going to love this simple Poppy Seed Chicken recipe! The chunks of tender chicken in the creamy, flavorful sauce topped with the crushed crackers and poppy seeds really makes for a tasty meal. It’s easy to pair any of your favorite sides to make a complete meal!

A plate with a large serving of Poppy Seed Chicken and other sides.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)

What if I don’t like sour cream?

Don’t let that stop you from enjoying this recipe. If you or someone you’re making this for doesn’t like sour cream, swap it out for Greek yogurt or mayonnaise. If you have the time, you could use some cream cheese that has been softened completely and thin it out a bit with some water. All of these options will add a nice, flavorful, creamy consistency to the dish.

What to serve with this chicken dish?

As you can see in the pictures, I served it with garlic bread and green beans. But, you can serve it with any of your favorite steamed veggies and a nice side salad. It would also be delicious on a bed of pasta noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Can I use a different cream of something soup?

Sure thing. Switch up the cream of something soup for a different flavor profile. Even condensed cheddar soup for a cheesy version would be amazing. You could use a cream of mushroom soup too- I have a Homemade Cream of Mushroom soup if you need it too!

What else can I add to this?

Bulking this out is very simple. You can mix in some frozen veggies with the chicken to make it a full meal.

Do I have to use chicken?

Well this is Poppy Seed Chicken, but you can totally swap it out. If you have leftover turkey, maybe from the holidays, you could definitely use that instead.

How to store leftover Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole?

Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days, freeze for up to 3 months.

How to reheat leftovers?

Reheat leftovers covered with foil in the oven so it doesn’t dry out or in the microwave without the foil.

A scoop of Poppy Seed Chicken on a serving spoon above the baking dish.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

chicken – It needs to be cooked chicken I used rotisserie chicken, but any leftover chicken will work.
cream of chicken soup – store-bought or make our own Homemade Cream of Chicken soup.
sour cream – see my FAQ’s above about sour cream substitutes.
black pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder and poultry seasoning – if you have a seasoning blend you prefer, please feel free to use that instead of the seasonings I use.
crushed Ritz crackers– you could use plain crackers or even bread crumbs if you want a different topping choice
unsalted butter– I prefer unsalted butter because there is already plenty of salt in the crackers.
poppy seeds – you could leave these out but then it wouldn’t really be poppy seed chicken.

Ritz crackers, butter, chicken, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, sour cream, poultry seasoning, black pepper, thyme, and poppy seeds.

HOW TO MAKE POPPY SEED CHICKEN

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add the diced chicken to the bottom of the baking dish. In a large bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, pepper, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and poultry seasoning.