Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a classic tried-and-true recipe with a creamy chicken filling topped and buttery crackers. Ready from start to finish in 45 minutes, it’s a great weeknight or entertaining recipe any time of the year.

This classic Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole recipe is one we’ve been making in our family for years. We love to make this when we have leftover chicken or just want an easy weeknight meal with less than 10 ingredients.

My mom used to make this for almost every church potluck growing up. We can guarantee it’s foolproof and comes out perfect every time. All ages love it and it’s so simple to assemble and bake. Plus it’s also easy to customize with any herbs, veggies, or spices you have at home.

If you need some other easy casserole recipes, try my Old Fashioned Squash Casserole, Jiffy Corn Casserole, and Sweet Onion Casserole.

I made this for dinner last night and it was a hit! I had chicken leftover and this was the perfect recipe to use it up. Definitely making it again. – Ellen

Easy recipe that is a winner! I take this to church potlucks and I always bring home an empty dish. – Phyllis

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• 45-Minute Dinner Recipe: Quick to prep in 15 minutes and bakes for half an hour until golden brown and bubbling.
• Approachable Ingredients: Most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen, just easily mix it all together and bake.
• Affordable Casserole: All of these ingredients won’t break the bank! It’s also the perfect recipe to use up any leftover chicken.
• Make-ahead Meal: You can assemble this casserole up to a day in advance, so it’s ideal for busy weeknights or for bringing to a picnic or potluck!

Ingredients

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

We love that this poppy seed chicken casserole recipe has just 8 ingredients that are easy to find and things you may already have on-hand.

• Cooked chicken: Roast your own chicken or use a rotisserie chicken for ease. We like to use a combination of breast and thigh meat for this recipe.
• Cream of chicken soup: Flavors the creamy base of this casserole with lots of warm notes.
• Sour cream: Adds tang and richness to the creamy sauce for the chicken.
• Mayonnaise: Gives the fat to make every bite perfectly creamy.
• Lemon juice: Adds the acid that brightens the flavors in each bite.
• Poppy seeds: The star ingredient of this casserole, adds a pop of texture and nutty flavor.
• Buttery crackers: We are of course fans of Ritz. Crush them up, but not too fine, for the best topping casserole to compliment the delicious filling.
• Salted butter: For tossing the crackers, adds extra nice flavor and helps with creating a golden brown crust in the oven.
• Parsley: To garnish if desired, adds a burst of color and fresh herb flavor.
• Cooked rice or egg noodles: Optional for serving, a nice compliment to the warm luscious chicken.

Tools You’ll Need

• 2 Quart Baking Dish
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Silicone Spatula
• Mixing Bowls
• Citrus Juicer

How to Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper as desired. Stir until well combined.

3. Spread the chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4. In a separate bowl, mix crushed crackers and melted butter until the crackers are evenly coated.

5. Sprinkle the buttered cracker crumbs evenly over the top of the chicken mixture.

6. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Serve hot on its own or over cooked rice or egg noodles. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

• Use rotisserie chicken for ease. You can cook the chicken yourself, but to save time we love using a shredded rotisserie chicken!
• Add fresh herbs and spices. If you prefer more seasoning in your chicken filling add herbs like thyme, rosemary, or parsley. Spice we love to add are paprika, mustard powder, and dried thyme. Rotisserie or leftover chicken will already be seasoned with salt and various seasonings. Add salt or more seasoning if using plain cooked chicken.
• Lighten it up! For a lighter casserole, use reduced fat mayo and swap Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
• Add other veggies. You can also add cooked veggies to the filling, like sweet potatoes, corn, or peas. So delicious!
• Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Recipe: If you want to substitute canned cream of chicken soup with homemade I have a quick and easy recipe. This recipe makes the equivalent of 1 10.5 ounce can.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in ⅓ cup milk and ⅓ cup chicken broth until well combined. Season with ¼ teaspoon onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and creamy.

What to Serve with Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

We have some great ideas of easy side dishes to serve with a casserole. We love a salad or some roasted veggies. Here are some additional simple ideas:

• Green Beans with Bacon and Onion
• Seven Layer Salad
• Gremolata Green Beans
• Roasted Ranch Potatoes
• Green Bean Salad
• Glazed Brussels Sprouts
• Marinated Vegetable Salad

A couple elegant side dishes you can prepare to impress your guests is Puff Pastry Asparagus and Greek Green Beans! They both bring a bright color and flavors to the plate!

Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

To store any leftovers in the fridge, add them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

For the freezer, place the airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight or on the counter at room temperature for a couple of hours.

When it comes to reheating leftovers, you can either microwave for a couple of minutes or bake in a 300ºF oven for a few minutes until warmed through. Add some fresh crushed butter crackers over the top before serving.

This poppy seed chicken casserole is great to make in advance, you can simply assemble it up to a day before baking and store covered in the fridge. We recommend you add the crushed butter crackers right before baking to ensure they are crunchy and fresh.

FAQs

More Easy Casserole Recipes

• French Onion Hashbrown Casserole
• Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
• Frito Taco Casserole
• Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole