Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Casserole

• 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.

How to Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

• Crush the Crackers: Start by crushing 2 sleeves of Ritz crackers (about 2 ½ cups in total).
• Mix the Base: In a bowl, stir together melted butter, 1 ½ cups of your crushed Ritz crackers, and a generous sprinkle of poppy seeds.
• Blend in the Main Ingredients: Gently fold in your bite-sized chicken pieces, cream of chicken soup, and sour cream until everything is nicely combined.
• Assemble the Casserole: Pour the mixture into a 9×13 inch pan, spreading it out evenly.
• Prepare the Topping: In another bowl, mix the remaining 1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers with Parmesan cheese.
• Top It Off: Evenly spread this cracker and cheese topping over your casserole.
• Bake: Pop your pan into a preheated 350°F oven and bake for 40 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is delightfully golden.

Tips For a Tasty Casserole

• Use 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.
• Use 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. Or grab and shred up a rotisserie chicken from the store.
• 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.

Rave Reviews About This Casserole

“Somebody made this and brought this over to me after I had my first baby. Ever since I have been almost obsessed with this! It is so stinking delicious! Great week night meal, great give away meal/potluck meal!”

-Betsy

Questions About Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Storing and Freezing This Casserole

• Storing in the Refrigerator:
  • Allow the casserole to cool completely after baking.
  • Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or transfer portions into airtight containers.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Reheat in the microwave or in an oven preheated to 350°F until warmed through; if you reheat in the oven, you might add an extra minute or two to help restore some of that topping crunch.
• Freezing for Later Enjoyment:
  • Let the casserole cool completely before freezing.
  • Wrap the entire casserole securely in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, or transfer it into a freezer-safe container.
  • It will keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months.
  • To reheat, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 20-25 minutes until it’s bubbly and heated through.
  • If the topping has lost its crunch after freezing, consider adding a fresh layer of crushed Ritz crackers mixed with Parmesan cheese just before the final bake.