Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

This poppy seed chicken casserole is in regular rotation around our house, partly because it’s delicious and the kids love it, and also because it’s really easy to throw together on those busy nights when dinner seems impossible. I don’t know about you, but between kids’ sports schedules, my husband’s work schedule, homework, business meetings, and general life chaos, dinnertime sometimes sneaks up on me. This casserole is made with ingredients I always have in the pantry and it comes together in a snap. Pair it with a simple green salad and a side of steamed rice and you have a well-balanced, tasty dinner that makes you seem like you have it all together even when you don’t feel like it.

Classic Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Ingredients

Creamy chicken casserole is the best comfort food that is filled with warmth and all things deliciousness! The ingredients are simple and easy to combine to bake in the oven. This poppy seed chicken casserole recipe is a great addition to any weeknight dinner menu!

Chicken breasts – Boneless skinless chicken breast does not need to be cooked before baking. Cut the chicken into cube bite-sized pieces. Ritz crackers – Crumble the crackers and sprinkle over top the chicken mixture for a crunchy and buttery baked topping. Butter – This is melted and poured over the crackers to give the crackers that crunchy taste and texture. Poppy seeds – These are miniature black balls or seeds that have a nutty taste to them but when baked they are a bit fruity. Cream of chicken – Try using our Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup recipe instead of a store-bought canned version. You can make this in just a few minutes and it tastes so much better and has much less sodium than the canned stuff. Sour cream – This is a light and creamy condiment that blends well with and creates a creamy dressing overtop the chicken. Parmesan cheese – Melted cheese gives this chicken an extra boost of flavor.

Tips For a Tasty Casserole

Casseroles can sometimes get a bad rap, as being dull, bland, or boring. But this poppy seed casserole turns all those stereotypes around. Casseroles can be tasty, full of fresh ingredients and flavors and that’s what I love about this dinner.

Fresh ingredients – Use fresh ingredients as much as you can. Add fresh veggies even if the recipe doesn’t call for them. For example, you could add peas, green beans, or shredded carrots to this mixture and bake them right in the casserole. Bear in mind that adding veggies can add unwanted liquid to the casserole so make sure to squeeze any moisture out of the vegetables before assembling your casserole. And steer clear of frozen veggies, as they have a lot of excess water. Substitute – If you don’t have the cream of chicken soup on hand, you can substitute cream of celery for a vegetarian twist or cream of mushroom soup for a different flavor. Leftovers – Casseroles are a delicious way to use up leftovers. If you have a roast chicken for Sunday dinner, use the leftover chicken for this casserole. Save time – You can also use canned chicken or a pre-cooked chicken like a rotisserie chicken in this recipe. This will save even more time! Crumble topping – We love using buttery Ritz crackers as the topping for this chicken casserole. But if you don’t have any on hand, you can substitute other types of crackers or corn flakes, or bread crumbs.