Poppy Seed Chicken – everyone loves this easy and comforting chicken casserole! Rice and a creamy chicken sauce topped with buttery crackers and poppy seeds. Yum!
This is one chicken dinner that the whole family can agree on. I like to serve it with green beans, spinach salad or some vegetables like zucchini and carrots.
Today I am sharing a fast and easy chicken main dish that is perfect for weeknight dinners. You start with chunks of chicken in a creamy sauce, then top it off with buttery crackers. It’s a recipe that’s been around for ages, and once you try it you will know why it is so popular!
I got the recipe from my roommate in college, and my family has always enjoyed it. But a few months ago I added some dry onions and a little swiss cheese to the original recipe. It really vamped up the flavor. Now my kids like it even more!
This is a great recipe for when you need to take dinner to someone. Even the pickiest of eaters seem to love it.
How to make the Best Poppy Seed Chicken
- cooked chicken breasts – I cook my own, but a rotisserie chicken works just as well
- cream of chicken soup – you can use canned condensed soup, or make it from scratch
- sour cream – I use light or fat free to cut down on the saturated fat
- milk
- dry minced onions – I have also made it with sliced green onions
- swiss cheese – this perks up the flavor, and makes the sauce extra creamy
- rice – Leftover rice is perfect for this recipe, any kind will do.
- Ritz crackers, or any type of buttery cracker
- melted butter
- poppy seeds
Tips for making Poppy Seed Chicken
-If you don’t have swiss cheese, parmesan cheese is an acceptable substitution.
-We like baking the casserole with the rice, because the sauce soaks into the rice and flavors it. But if you prefer, you can just bake it without the rice and serve it over hot cooked rice.
MORE TASTY CHICKEN RECIPES
- Italian Chicken Pasta
- From Scratch Chicken Haystacks
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Mustard Chicken
- Chicken Parmesan
Poppy Seed Chicken Recipe
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Ingredients
Topping
- 1 ½ cups crushed Ritz crackers 1 sleeve, crushed
- 2 Tbsp melted butter
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
Casserole
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 3 chicken breasts cooked and cubed
- 1 10.75 ounce can cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup light sour cream
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 Tbsp dry minced onion
- ⅓ cup grated swiss cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a casserole dish or 9x13" baking dish with non stick spray.
- Crush crackers, then pour them into a small bowl. Stir in the butter and poppy seeds; set aside.
- Spread rice in prepared pan.
- Mix chicken, soup, sour cream, milk, onions, and cheese in a heavy saucepan. Heat through over medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Pour chicken mixture over the top of the rice and spread evenly.
- Sprinkle crackers on top of chicken mixture.
- Bake at 350° for about 25-30 minutes or till bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
(Originally published Jan 4, 2009, updated August 2019.)
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Loved it. Added chopped broccoli. A friend of mine brought a similar dish over with broccoli and it was fantastic.
I love the idea of adding broccoli, I’ll have to try that next time!
Hi! My friend requested this meal for a meal train and it looks so good! Just wondering if this freezes well or if I should take it to her put together but ready to be popped in the oven?
Thanks!
I think it would be okay to freeze the rice and sauce, but I’d keep the cracker topping in a baggie and add it before baking. I think it would turn soggy if it was frozen.
This looks so good. Thanks for an easy recipe.
I had forgotten all about this classic dish. Glad you reminded me — it’s delicious!
This looks so delicious! Love how quick and easy it comes together.
I loved this. Delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe