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
Yields: 10-12 servings
Prep Level: Beginner +
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

What You Will Need
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

How To Make

- Preheat oven.
- Shred or dice cooked chicken and set aside. (see FAQ’s)
- Pour the condensed soup into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the sour cream and shredded cheese.
- Next add the poppy seeds, garlic powder, and black pepper.

- Mix throughly.

- Fully mix the chicken in with the poppy seed sauce.

- Transfer the creamy chicken casserole mixture to a baking dish.
- Use a rubber spatula to even out the chicken mixture.

- Melt the butter in a medium bowl.
- Pour the crushed butter crackers over the melted butter. (see FAQ’s)

- Stir in the dried parsley.
- Mix throughly.

- Layer the cracker mixture evenly on top of the chicken mixture.
- Place in a heated oven.

- 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:
- Easy Chicken Cobbler With Red Lobster Bay Biscuit Mix – Made with leftover chicken and is another comforting casserole for sure!
- Easy Ground Pork Casserole In A Slow Cooker – One of my favorite slow cooker recipes
- Easy Company Chicken Casserole With Wine Sauce – A family favorite!

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.
Easy Poppy Seed Rotisserie Chicken Casserole Recipe

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.
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
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
- Shred chicken, place in a medium bowl and set aside. (see FAQ’s)
- Pour the condensed soup into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the sour cream and shredded cheese.
- Next add the poppy seeds, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Mix throughly.
- Add the chicken.
- Mix until the chicken is fully incorporated into the poppy seed sauce.
- Transfer the creamy chicken casserole mixture to a casserole dish.
- Use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to even out the chicken mixture.
- Melt the butter in a medium bowl.
- Pour the crushed butter crackers over the melted butter. (see FAQ’s)
- Stir in the dried parsley.
- Mix throughly.
- Layer the cracker mixture evenly on top of the chicken mixture.
- Place in a preheated oven.
- 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)
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.
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