Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a delicious combination of shredded or chopped chicken combined with a creamy sauce, poppy seeds, and topped with a crisp, buttery Ritz cracker topping!  It's an easy 30-minute chicken dinner that you can put together any day of the week. 

Quick Note:  This post was originally published in 2018.  It has been updated with fabulous new photos.  

Welcome to My Kitchen Serenity!  Chicken casseroles with Ritz crackers are classic Southern comfort food.  Poppy seed chicken casserole has been popular for many years.  Why?  Because it's delicious, that's why!  It's creamy comfort food that's packed with flavor. 

Why This Recipe Works

This is one of those recipes that makes getting supper on the table quick and easy.  Take some shredded rotisserie chicken, add the creamy soup mixture, and top with crushed Ritz crackers.  Tada!  

Poppy seed chicken is a family-friendly dinner meal.  My children loved it and still do now that they're grown.  From start to finish, it's ready in 30 minutes.  It's also a delicious meal to bake and take to someone in need of a meal such as the birth of a new baby, or that office get together where everyone brings a dish.

Why We Love This Meal

This poppy seed chicken with cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, and sour cream makes it super creamy and flavorful.  It's so creamy you can serve it over rice or any kind of pasta (egg noodles or linguine).  Honestly, at our house, we usually eat it as-is. It's such a family-friendly recipe, even the kids will devour it!  

Poppy Seed Info

Poppy seeds add a slightly nutty flavor and a little crunch to any recipe you add them to.  They're the perfect little addition to muffins, bagels, and cakes, too.

Poppy seeds can be a nuisance if they get stuck in your teeth, but did you know there are health benefits to this tiny black seed?  Poppy seeds contain B vitamins, several minerals, and fiber.  Here's a short article The Health Powers of Poppy Seeds.   

Ingredient Notes

please scroll down to the recipe card for the printable version

Rotisserie Chicken - what's not to love about store-bought, cooked chicken that's juicy and flavorful

Cream of Mushroom Soup - adds a rich earthy flavor

Cream of Celery Soup - use cream of chicken soup if that's all you have

Sour Cream - makes this dish extra cream.  Choose unflavored greek yogurt if you prefer

Minced Garlic - the jarred minced garlic is very handy to have in the refrigerator; it lasts a long time

Black Pepper - fresh crushed black pepper is best

Poppy Seeds - adds a slightly nutty flavor

Ritz Crackers - irresistible cracker topping that's the bomb

Butter -  need I say more!

Recipe Variations

• You can use cooked turkey instead of chicken.
• Add 1 cup sliced mushrooms in Step 2 of the recipe card.
• Sprinkle with thinly sliced almonds just before baking.

How to Make It

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place shredded or chopped rotisserie chicken into a large casserole dish.

In a separate bowl, combine soups, sour cream, poppy seeds, minced garlic, and black pepper. 

Pour soup and sour cream mixture into the casserole dish with the chicken. Mix well.

Crush the crackers and sprinkle them on top of the casserole.  Melt the butter and drizzle on top of the crushed crackers.

Bake in oven, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes.

Note: The recipe uses a whole Rotisserie chicken and, to me, it adds an extra nice flavor to the casserole.  But you can use 3-4 large chicken breasts instead.  Just cook the chicken breasts then shred or chop them.   

Such a golden, buttery, crispy topping!

Recipe Yield

This recipe makes 4 generous servings.

Side Dish Suggestions

This casserole is perfect eaten as is, however, if you're wondering what to serve with poppy seed chicken, it's wonderful served over rice.  Baby lima beans, green beans, corn, and broccoli are nice side dishes.  Try my Roasted Brussels Sprouts with this casserole.  A simple side salad of cucumbers and tomatoes goes well.  Quick rolls or french bread add a great finishing touch.

More Casserole Recipes

If so, be sure to check out my Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Pasta recipe. It's made with chicken breasts, broccoli florets, penne pasta, and an easy homemade alfredo sauce.  

Another favorite is my Rotel Chicken Spaghetti.  It’s a quick and easy dinner recipe that uses rotisserie chicken, Rotel tomatoes, and Velveeta cheese.

A classic southern chicken casserole is my Southern Chicken Divan Casserole.  Made with chicken and broccoli in a creamy sauce topped with cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs.

If a beef noodle casserole is on your mind, try my Beef Noodle Casserole recipe. It's filled with ground beef, egg noodles, robust tomato sauce, and a creamy cheesy sauce.

Storage/Shelf Life

Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.

You can freeze leftover poppy seed chicken casserole for up to 3 months.  Allow the casserole to completely cool.  Try to remove most of the cracker topping as it may get soggy when it thaws.  Be sure to freeze in an airtight container to prevent ice crystals from forming.  When you're ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then heat in a 350F oven (or heat in the microwave) until piping hot.

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Here are some other recipes you may like.  

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