The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Poppy seed chicken casserole is such a classic dish that is incredibly easy to make! A creamy chickencasserole topped with a buttery ritz topping; this will be the best casserole that you ever make!

Casseroles are some of my family’s very favorite dinners! There are so many different options and they are usually quick and easy to make. Not to mention delicious! Try out some more of my casserole recipes like this easy taco casserole, this delicious tuna noodle casserole, or this yummy breakfast casserole.

The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (1)

A Reader’s Review

Another winner! My family loved it!

-Tammi

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe

If you have been searching for the most delicious casserole of all time… well, you just found it! I am not kidding when I tell you that this casserole is so good that your family will devour it. In fact, you may want to double it because it will get eaten so quickly! This casserole is topped with buttery Ritz crackers that provide a stark contrast to the deliciously creamy chicken.

You know you’ve made a good dinner when even your kids eat it without any complaints. And even better than that, when they ask for it weekly! Not only does this poppy seed casserole taste delicious, but it’s super easy to make too. It takes less than 35 minutes from start to finish! We served this up with some delicious green beans and on top of some rice. Add in some dinner rolls, and you have yourself a meal to remember!

Ingredients in this Casserole

The ingredients that you need to make this poppy seed chicken casserole recipe are simple and easy, and the best part… You probably already have everything on hand in your kitchen! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Cooked Chicken: To make things super easy, I grab a cooked rotisserie chicken from Costo and shred it up. It saves me so much time! Or, I quickly cook some frozen chicken breasts in my instant pot with this recipe!
  • Sour Cream: This gives that delightful and delicious creamy texture.
  • Cream of Chicken Soup: You can buy this at the store or make some at home with this recipe!
  • Parmesan Cheese: This sprinkled throughout the casserole brings a delicious flavor.
  • Poppy Seeds: Once you make this casserole, you will always make sure that you have some of these on hand! You will want to make it all the time.
  • Ritz Crackers: Crush these up and use them to top the casserole. They will get brown and crispy as they cook.
  • Butter: I used unsalted butter in this recipe.

How Do You Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole?

This recipe doesn’t require much more than mixing everything together in one bowl and then cooking it for a few minutes. It’s so easy, and the best part… You don’t have very many dishes to wash afterward! I love a delicious dinner and an easy cleanup!

  1. Combine: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add cooked chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, shredded parmesan cheese, and poppy seeds in a large bowl. Mix until incorporated. Spread along the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish or 9×9 inch pan.
  2. Bake: Crush the Ritz crackers, add melted butter, and toss to coat in the butter. Sprinkle on top of the chicken mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.
The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (2)

Variations

I love casseroles so much because you can easily change them up or add to them to fit your needs. This poppy seed chicken casserole is no exception! Here are a few more ideas that you can try!

  • Vegetables: You can easily add in a few vegetables! I have tried it with broccoli and carrots and thought it was absolutely delicious!
  • Rice: I like to serve this dish on top of some cooked rice to make it a little bit heartier and more filling. You can use brown or white rice (or even cauliflower rice), depending on what you prefer!
The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (3)

Can I Freeze Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole?

If you want to make this ahead, you can easily freeze it! Make sure to freeze this poppy seed chicken casserole before baking and without the cracker topping. Cover the pan tightly with foil and place it in your freezer. It will last about 3 months. When you are ready to cook it, remove the casserole from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Mix the Ritz topping mixture and add it to your casserole before putting it into the oven.

The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (4)

What to Serve with Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

If you are wondering what you should serve with this casserole, my answer would be that it goes with just about anything! But I’ve come up with a few favorites that will go with it so well. It will become a regular meal on your weekly dinner rotation!

Side Dishes

Perfect Sautéed Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

30 mins

Vegetables

Air Fryer Green Beans with Parmesan

15 mins

Salads

Copycat Olive Garden Salad

15 mins

Bread

Lion House Rolls

3 hrs 50 mins

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The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

4.62 from 13 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Poppy seed chicken casserole is such a classic dish that is incredibly easy to make! A creamy chickencasserole topped with a buttery ritz topping; this will be the best casserole that you ever make!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 5 Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add cooked chicken, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, shredded parmesan cheese, and poppy seeds in a large bowl. Mix until incorporated. Spread along the bottom of a 2-quart casserole or 9×9 inch pan.

  • Crush the Ritz crackers, add melted butter, and toss to coat in the butter. Sprinkle on top of the chicken mixture. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted on September 9, 2018

Updated on October 3, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 27gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 378mgPotassium: 232mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 684IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 153mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Alyssa Rivers and the food blogger behind The Recipe Critic. The blog launched in 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family. Each recipe is tried and true, family-tested and approved.

Read More About Me

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The Very Best Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

How many calories are in poppyseed chicken? ›

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
614Calories
45gFat
15gCarbs
37gProtein
Jan 23, 2024

How long to boil chicken? ›

How Long to Boil Chicken Breasts
  1. Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: cook for about 30 minutes (That would mean boiling frozen chicken for about 45 minutes), or until 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Skinless, boneless chicken breast halves: cook 12 to 15 minutes. (That means boiling frozen chicken would take 18 to 22 minutes.)
Feb 15, 2024

Do poppy seeds go bad? ›

Natural Oils Can Spoil

Like all nuts and seeds, poppy seeds contain lots of healthy oils – which is a good thing – but they don't last forever! The naturally healthy oils in poppy seeds can break down over time if exposed to heat, light and oxygen.

How many pounds of chicken is 5 cups? ›

Summary. So to summarize: 1 pound of chicken meat is equal to approximately 3 cups. As a general rule, for bone in chicken you need twice as much to yield the same amount of meat.

How many calories in a cup of poppy seed chicken casserole? ›

Generic Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole (1 cup) contains 10g total carbs, 9g net carbs, 15g fat, 4g protein, and 325 calories.

What is the lowest calorie chicken piece? ›

Here are the calorie counts of the most common cuts of boneless, skinless chicken per 3.5 oz. (100-g) serving:
  • Chicken breast: 165 calories.
  • Chicken thigh: 179 calories.
  • Chicken wing: 203 calories.
  • Chicken drumstick: 155 calories.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you boil it? ›

Most whole chickens become fully tender in about one hour on medium-low heat. Yes, chicken breast will get softer the longer you cook it, as long as it is cooked at a low enough temperature to prevent it from becoming dry and tough.

Can you overcook chicken when boiling? ›

If they need more time, put them back in and check every 5 minutes. Don't let them overcook—they'll start to become rubbery. — Shred it up. After removing your chicken from the pot, let it rest for about 10 minutes.

Can you boil chicken too much? ›

Thus, you end up with hard rubbery egg curds surrounded by that milky liquid which was once contained within the proteins. The same is true with chicken…if it is boiled or cooked too quickly and rapidly, or for simply too long, the proteins contract tightly and squeeze the moisture out.

Should I refrigerate poppy seeds? ›

Your spices will be happier when stored in a cabinet or drawer instead. Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and a few other spices are the exception. These do better in the fridge.

Can I just scatter poppy seeds? ›

Poppies can be sprinkled, sown directly into soil, or they can be started indoors. We only sprinkle them when we have an abundance of seed, since only a fraction establish. Sown indoors, their germination rates are much higher and it's much less weeding, as well.

Why have poppy seeds been recalled? ›

A national recall of poppy seeds was announced today, with consumers advised not to eat affected products. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is coordinating the consumer recall of several brands and products due to the potential presence of thebaine, a toxic chemical found in unsafe poppy seeds.

How many chicken breasts make 4 cups? ›

Generally: 1 1/2 pounds of boneless chicken will yield about 4 cups of shredded chicken. 1 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast will yield about 1 1/3 cups of shredded chicken. This is a medium breast.

Is 4 cups of chicken a pound? ›

The weight of 4 cups of cooked chicken will depend on a variety of factors, such as the type of chicken, whether it is bone-in or boneless, and how it is cooked. As a rough estimate, 4 cups of shredded cooked chicken typically weighs around 1 pound or 16 ounces.

How many breasts is 2 cups of chicken? ›

For 2 cups of cubed chicken, you'll need about 2 cooked chicken breasts, depending on how many ounces each chicken breast weighs. Just like with shredded chicken, every 6 ounces of cooked chicken breast will yield approx. 1 cup of cubed chicken.

How many calories in a poppy seed chicken salad from Panera? ›

Panera Chicken Poppyseed Salad (1 salad) contains 12g total carbs, 9g net carbs, 4g fat, 15g protein, and 130 calories.

How many calories are in a Panera Strawberry Poppyseed chicken salad? ›

Nutrition (per serving)
Calories200cal
Sodium186mg
Total Carb.27g
Dietary Fiber4g
Protein20g
2 more rows

How many calories are in each piece of chicken? ›

Chicken breast is one of the most popular cuts of chicken. A skinless, cooked chicken breast (174 grams) contains 56 grams of protein. This is equal to 32 grams of protein per 100 grams ( 3 ). A chicken breast also has 289 calories, or 166 calories per 100 grams ( 3 ).

How many calories are in skinny girl Poppy Seed Dressing? ›

Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving10
Calories

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