Name: Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked shredded chicken; 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup; 1 container (8 oz) sour cream ((or 1 cup)); 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning; 1 tablespoon poppy seeds; 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (crushed); 4 tablespoons salted butter (melted)

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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a classic casserole recipe with tender shredded chicken, a creamy sauce, and a buttery ritz cracker topping. My family loves to eat it over white rice for a hearty and comforting dinner!

Be sure and also try my Poppy Seed Chicken Pasta Salad – it’s my go to for any gathering or potluck! If you want a citrusy recipe then try Coconut Lemon Poppyseed Muffins.

A serving spoon with a scoop of the casserole on it

Creamy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe

This poppy seed chicken recipe is a great meal for busy weeknights! It uses leftover chicken smothered in a creamy sauce and a few other prepared ingredients that makes prep time so quick.

A creamy chicken mixture is topped with buttery crushed crackers and then it’s baked until golden brown in the oven. It’s comfort food that will quickly become a family favorite at your dinner table.

Simple Ingredients For Creamy Chicken Casserole With Poppy Seeds

Cooked Chicken : Use leftover chicken, a rotisserie chicken, or put some boneless chicken breasts into the slow cooker with a can of chicken broth – cook on low heat for 6-7 hours and then shred the chicken with two forks.
Cream of Chicken Soup
Sour Cream
Ranch Seasoning Mix : You will only use 2 tablespoons of this, discard the remainder or save it for another recipe.
Poppy Seeds : These come in the small spice jars. You will find poppyseeds alongside the other dried spices at the store.
Melted Butter
Buttery Ritz Crackers

How To Make This Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe With Poppy Seeds (Printable Recipe Card)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the cooked shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and poppy seeds. Stir together until thoroughly combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread it out evenly.

In a separate small bowl, mix together the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter until all the cracker crumbs are coated well. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over top of the chicken mixture in an even layer.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown and bubbly.

Remove from the oven and allow it cool for about 5 minutes before serving. This can be eaten as is, or serve it over cooked white rice or egg noodles.

What Are Some Substitutions I Can Make?

This is easy casserole is something that the whole family can enjoy – but there are a few things you can do to change it up if needed. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Chicken : Use up leftover chicken, canned chicken (drained & flaked), or grab a large rotisserie chicken from the store for a really easy prep meal. I like to put 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts into the slow cooker along with a can of chicken broth; cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. When it’s done just shred it with two forks and use it for the recipe. Cooking chicken in the slow cooker makes it so soft and tender, and by the time dinner prep starts, the chicken will be ready to go.
Cream of Chicken Soup : Cream of mushroom soup or condensed cream of celery soup are all great substitutes.
Sour Cream : Plain greek is an option but it will change the final flavor of the casserole. I would only recommend subbing half of the sour cream for plain Greek yogurt.
Ritz Crackers : Use classic ritz crackers, or try another variety like whole wheat ritz crackers or the everything bagel ritz crackers.

How To Store Leftover Creamy Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole?

Any leftover casserole should be cooled down to room temperature. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, or a lid, and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also transfer leftovers into an airtight container and store it that way inside the fridge.

When ready to eat, heat up individual servings inside the microwave until heated through.

Close up of the buttery ritz cracker topping on the poppy seed chicken.

How To Serve Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

My family loves to eat this creamy casserole over some cooked white rice, Oven Baked Brown Rice, or Rice Pilaf. You could also eat it as is or serve it over egg noodles. Some great side dish ideas are Parmesan Roasted Potatoes, Slow Cooker Sweet Carrots, Cheesy Baked Broccoli, Parmesan Roasted Brussel Sprouts, or a simple green salad with your favorite dressing. Homemade One Hour Rolls or Easy Garlic Parmesan Knots, or pick up some bread from the bakery is always a good idea to soak up all that creamy sauce with.

A fork bite of the casserole above the casserole dish below.

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make it ahead of time. Prepare the casserole as directed but leave off the buttery ritz cracker topping. Cover the casserole dish with a lid or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Place the cracker topping on just before baking.

Can I Add A Vegetable Into It?

If wanted, add some thawed frozen vegetables into the chicken mixture such as green beans, sliced or diced carrots, or corn. My family doesn’t like vegetables inside the casserole so I never add some; I prefer to serve a vegetable as a side dish.

Can I Add White Rice To The Casserole?

Yes! Traditionally, this casserole recipe has a base layer of cooked white rice. If that’s what you want to do then add 3-4 cups of cooked white rice into the bottom of the casserole pan before adding the chicken mixture over top. If the rice is cold you may need to add some additional cook time to ensure it’s heated through.

What Chicken Is Best To Use?

Use up any already cooked chicken that you have. Leftover chicken from another meal, rotisserie chicken, canned chicken (drained well & flaked), diced chicken that has been cooked and is ready-to-use from the store, or put 3 chicken breasts into the slow cooker along with a can of chicken broth and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. Shred the chicken with two forks and use it in the recipe.

Casserole dish with a scoop taken out of to see the creamy casserole filling.

More Delicious Casserole Recipes

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Author Jessica – Together as Family

Course Casserole, Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Equipment

9×9 Casserole Dish

Ingredients

▢ 3 cups cooked shredded chicken
▢ 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
▢ 1 container (8 oz) sour cream (or 1 cup)
▢ 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
▢ 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
▢ 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
▢ 4 tablespoons salted butter melted

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, add the cooked shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, ranch seasoning, and poppy seeds. Stir together until thoroughly combined. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and spread it out evenly.
3 cups cooked shredded chicken, 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup, 1 container (8 oz) sour cream, 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning, 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
In a separate small bowl, mix together the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter until all the cracker crumbs are coated well. Sprinkle the cracker mixture over top of the chicken mixture in an even layer.
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, 4 tablespoons salted butter
Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and allow it cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
^{*The casserole can be eaten as is or serve it over cooked white rice (my family prefers this) or egg noodles.}

Notes

Ritz Crackers : You can use any variety/flavor of Ritz crackers, I usually stick to the classic. To crush the crackers, you can either use your hands or a meat pounder to crush them inside the sleeve, or place the crackers inside a Ziploc bag and use a meat pounder or rolling pin to crush them, or you can use a food processor/food chopper.

Chicken : Use up any already cooked chicken that you have. Leftover chicken from another meal, rotisserie chicken, canned chicken (drained well & flaked), diced chicken that has been cooked and is ready-to-use from the store, or put 3 chicken breasts into the slow cooker along with a can of chicken broth and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. Shred the chicken with two forks and use it in the recipe.

Nutrition

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