This poppy seed chicken casserole is simple and comforting with chicken tossed in a rich and creamy sauce topped with poppy seeds and a buttery Ritz cracker topping.
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe
I am always on the hunt for new casserole recipes that are convenient, easy to make, and delicious enough not to hear any complaints! This creamy poppy seed chicken casserole delivers on all of that.
Much like tuna noodle casserole, chicken broccoli rice casserole, and easy chicken noodle casserole, it’s made with just a few simple ingredients that can be thrown together in a hurry!
Why I Love This Classic Recipe
- Plenty of shortcuts. Use leftover chicken and canned soup and this old-fashioned dish is ready in 35 minutes!
- A balance of textures. The creamy base, the tender chicken, crunchy poppy seeds, and a buttery crisp cracker crust balance each other so nicely.
Casserole Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- For the creamy base: Sour cream, a can of cream of chicken soup, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice.
- Chicken breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cooked and chopped into bite-sized pieces. Use last night’s leftovers if you have some.
- Poppy seeds: Add a fun little textural element and nutty flavor.
- The topping: Ritz crackers and melted butter make a delightful crispy topping.
How to Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Whisk together the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, Worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice in a medium mixing bowl.
Add chicken cubes to the bottom of a nonstick, prepared casserole dish, and then pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle the top with cracker crumbs and poppy seeds.
Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 20 minutes until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbly.
Variations and Tips
- Swap the sour cream for Greek yogurt if preferred.
- Cream of mushroom soup can be used instead of the cream of chicken.
- Sneak in veggies like peas, mushrooms, broccoli or carrots.
- Sprinkle some Parmesan cheese with the cracker topping, or mix some grated cheddar cheese into the chicken mixture.
- Take a cue from chicken broccoli divan and use a Panko topping instead.
Serving Suggestions
We love chicken poppyseed casserole served over a bed of white rice, but that’s just one option. You can also go with egg noodles or creamy mashed potatoes and a fresh Olive Garden salad on the side.
A basket of dinner rolls to soak up that creamy goodness is also a must.
Freezing Instructions
This recipe for poppy seed chicken casserole is a great dish to make ahead and keep frozen for a quick freezer meal in the future.
All you need to do is assemble it without the Ritz topping (otherwise, it’ll get soggy). Do not bake it, instead, cover it with plastic wrap and then foil and place it in the freezer.
It’ll be good for up to 3 months and when you’re ready to bake it, thaw it in the fridge, add the topping, and into the oven it goes.
More comfort foods to try include chicken and stuffing casserole, homemade meatloaf recipe, salisbury steak and creamy crockpot chicken.
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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.75 ounce can)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 ½ cups chicken breasts , cooked and chopped
- 1 cup Ritz crackers , crushed
- ¼ cup butter , melted
- 1 ½ teaspoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, cream of chicken soup, Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice.
- Place cooked chicken in the bottom of the casserole dish and pour cream sauce over the chicken.
- In a separate bowl, combine crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter. Add to the top of the cream sauce Sprinkle with poppy seeds.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, American, Casseroles, Chicken, Dinner, Kid-Friendly, Meal Prep, Nut-Free
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This was a hit at our family dinner! The combination of sour cream and Worcestershire sauce added such a rich flavor. My kids even asked for seconds. Definitely adding to our meal rotation!
Love that buttery cracker topping on top! Yum!