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Easy Poppy Seed Rotisserie Chicken Casserole Recipe

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This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a classic recipe that is so incredibly easy to make! 


It’s one of those great recipes that has a prep time of 10-15 minutes and made with simple ingredients. 

A creamy chicken casserole topped with a buttery ritz topping that is a family favorite.

There is a white plate with a creamy chicken mixture and pieces of green broccoli on it. There is part of a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy white chicken mixture with a cracker crumb topping in it. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the baking dish. There is a dark gray cloth napkin laying next to the plate. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Why We Love This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe

  • A classic southern comfort food that combines tender chicken with a flavorful cream sauce and topped off with a buttery crunchy topping.
  • It’s an outstanding one-pot meal made with only a handful of ingredients.
  • It’s an easy dinner recipe that is ready in less than 45 minutes.

Ingredients For Creamy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

There is a large measuring bowl with shredded cooked chicken. There are two cans of condensed soup, a white carton of sour cream, a stick of butter, a white bowl with yellow shredded cheese in it, four very small clear glass bowls with seasonings in them, and a clear plastic sleeve of light brown round crackers. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

What You Will Need For This Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe

Chicken – You need 4 to 5 cups of shredded chicken.  


A large rotisserie chicken yields about that.

You can use both white and dark meat. 

Cream of Chicken Soup – This recipe calls for 2 cans of condensed soup.

You can make your own or pick up a couple of cans from your local grocery store.

Sour Cream – Combined with the soup, this makes the creamy sauce for the casserole. You can use regular or light.

Cheddar Cheese – For convenience, I use packaged shredded cheese.

You can substitute parmesan cheese.

Poppy Seeds – Usually found in the spice aisle at the grocery store.

Seasonings – Garlic powder, dried parsley, and black pepper.

Feel free to add other seasonings like Italian herbs or a dash of onion powder.

Buttery Ritz Crackers – You need about 2 cups of crushed crackers. (see FAQ’s) Panko breadcrumbs are a great option for your favorite buttery cracker. 

Melted butter – The melted butter is mixed with the crushed crackers or breadcrumbs to create the delicious buttery ritz cracker topping.

Helpful Tools and Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • Casserole dish or large baking dish
  • Rubber spatula
  • Cutting board
  • 2 forks
  • Zip top plastic bag
  • Rolling pin
  • Oven mitts

Poppy Seed Chicken Recipe

There is part of a white plate showing with a creamy chicken mixture on it. There is part of a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy white chicken mixture with a cracker crumb topping in it. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the baking dish. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Simple Steps

There is a large white mixing bowl with condensed soup, sour cream, shredded yellow cheese and seasonings in it. There is a large measuring bowl with shredded cooked chicken in the background. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Preheat oven.
  • Shred or dice cooked chicken and set aside. (see FAQ’s)
  • Next add the poppy seeds, garlic powder, and black pepper.
There is a large white mixing bowl with condensed soup, sour cream, shredded yellow cheese and seasonings mixed all together. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the bowl. There is a large measuring bowl with shredded cooked chicken in the background. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Mix throughly.
There is a large white mixing bowl with condensed soup, sour cream, shredded yellow cheese, seasonings, and shredded chicken mixed all together. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the bowl. There is a large measuring bowl with shredded cooked chicken in the background. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Fully mix the chicken in with the poppy seed sauce.
There is a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy mixture made up condensed soup, sour cream, shredded cheese, shredded chicken and seasonings in it. The baking dish is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Transfer the creamy chicken casserole mixture to a baking dish.
  • Use a rubber spatula to even out the chicken mixture.
There is a medium white bowl with melted butter in it. There is a plastic zip top bag with cracker crumbs in it laying in front of the bowl. There is a very small clear glass bowl with dried green seasoning (parsley) in it, in front of the bowl. There is a wooden round rolling pin laying next to the white bowl. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Melt the butter in a medium bowl.
  • Pour the crushed butter crackers over the melted butter. (see FAQ’s)
There is a white bowl with a mixture of crushed light brown crackers, dried parsley, and melted butter in it. There is a stainless steel fork resting in the bowl. The bowl is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Stir in the dried parsley.
  • Mix throughly.
There is a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy mixture made up condensed soup, sour cream, shredded cheese, shredded chicken and seasonings in it. There is a cracker crumb topping on half of the chicken mixture. The baking dish is on a white and black terrazzo surface.
  • Layer the cracker mixture evenly on top of the chicken mixture.
  • Place in a heated oven.
There is a white rectangular baking dish with a baked creamy mixture made up condensed soup, sour cream, shredded cheese, shredded chicken and seasonings in it. There is a cracker crumb topping on top of the chicken mixture. The baking dish is on a white and black terrazzo surface. There is a dark gray cloth napkin laying next to the dish.
  • Bake until the creamy chicken dish is fully heated and the cracker topping is golden brown.
  • Serve with your favorite side dish! (see FAQ’s)

See recipe card below for ingredient measurements and cooking time.

Casseroles are always great for a busy weeknight dinner, holiday company, and potluck dinners!

They are the ultimate comfort food and crowd pleasers!

Try some of my other casserole recipes the next time your looking for a quick and delicious meal the whole family will love:

There is a white plate with a creamy chicken mixture and pieces of green broccoli on it. There is a fork resting on the plate. There is a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy white chicken mixture with a cracker crumb topping in it. There is a dark gray cloth napkin laying next to the plate. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Way To Shred Cooked Chicken?

There are a few ways that you can shred chicken.

I like to shred cooked chicken the 2 fork method: Place two forks in the middle of the boneless skinless chicken breasts and pull the meat apart into pieces.

Continue pulling apart until you get the desired size of pieces you like.

How Do I Store A Casserole?

Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container or seal the top of the dish tightly with plastic wrap and store 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

How Do You Crush Crackers?

​The best way to crush crackers is to place them in a zip top plastic bag.

Release as much air as possible and seal the bag.

Use a rolling pin or another heavy object and smash the crackers into crumbs.

What Side Dishes To Serve With Chicken Poppy Seed Casserole?

Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this classic casserole are: green beans, steamed broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or a side salad. 

Yield: 10 - 12 servings

Easy Poppy Seed Rotisserie Chicken Casserole Recipe

There is a white plate with a creamy chicken mixture and pieces of green broccoli on it. There is part of a white rectangular baking dish with a creamy white chicken mixture with a cracker crumb topping in it. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the baking dish. There is a dark gray cloth napkin laying next to the plate. Items are on a white and black terrazzo surface.

This Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is a classic recipe that is so incredibly easy to make! 

It's one of those great recipes that has a prep time of 10-15 minutes and made with simple ingredients. 

A creamy chicken casserole topped with a buttery ritz topping that is a family favorite.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 2 cans of condensed cream of chicken (10.5 ounce can)
  • 16 ounces of sour cream (regular or light)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 cups butter crackers - crushed
  • 1 stick unsalted butter - melted (1/2 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
  2. Shred chicken, place in a medium bowl and set aside. (see FAQ's)
  3. Pour the condensed soup into a large mixing bowl.
  4. Add the sour cream and shredded cheese.
  5. Next add the poppy seeds, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  6. Mix throughly.
  7. Add the chicken.
  8. Mix until the chicken is fully incorporated into the poppy seed sauce.
  9. Transfer the creamy chicken casserole mixture to a casserole dish. 
  10. Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to even out the chicken mixture.
  11. Melt the butter in a medium bowl.
  12. Pour the crushed butter crackers over the melted butter. (see FAQ's)
  13. Stir in the dried parsley.
  14. Mix throughly.
  15. Layer the cracker mixture evenly on top of the chicken mixture.
  16. Place in a preheated oven.
  17. Bake until the creamy chicken dish is fully heated and the cracker topping is golden brown.
  18. Serve with your favorite side dish! (see FAQ's)

Notes

Helpful Tools and Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Medium bowl
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • 9 x 13 inch casserole dish or large baking dish
  • Rubber spatula
  • Cutting board
  • 2 forks
  • Zip top plastic bag
  • Rolling pin
  • Oven mitts

Recipe Tips

  • Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container or seal the top of the dish tightly with plastic wrap and store 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

  • The best way to crush crackers is to place them in a zip top plastic bag. Release as much air as possible and seal the bag. Use a rolling pin or another heavy object and smash the crackers into crumbs.

  • Some of my favorite side dishes to serve with this classic casserole are: green beans, steamed broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or a green salad. 

Did you make this recipe?

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