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A white ceramic baking dish of homemade poppy seed chicken casserole with a golden breadcrumb-and-cheddar crust, black poppy seeds, and parsley, a wooden spoon lifting cheesy chicken and pasta strands.

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

A creamy, make-ahead chicken casserole with a buttery cracker topping and Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole-lemon sauce.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Course: Main dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Baked mac and cheese recipe, Best mac and cheese recipe, Easy baked mac and cheese recipe, Mac and cheese recipe no bake, Mac and cheese recipe stovetop, Simple mac and cheese recipe, Southern mac and cheese recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 350kcal
Cost: $8

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 baking dish (greased)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (for sauce & chicken)
  • 1 food processor or bag (to crush crackers)
  • 1 Wooden spoon (for mixing)
  • – Measuring cups & spoons

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken - rotisserie or boiled & shredded
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup - 10–10.5 oz can
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 2 teaspoon lemon juice - freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 12 crackers Ritz - crushed
  • 3 tablespoon butter - melted
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan - optional
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley - optional

Instructions

  • Cook and shred chicken
    “A birds-eye view of two vintage silver forks pulling apart moist, white shredded chicken on a dark metal baking tray. The flaky strands of chicken are scattered across the tray’s surface, with a few browned bits clinging to the meat. The tray sits on a white marble countertop, and soft, diffused daylight highlights the texture and moisture of the chicken.”
  • Whisk soup, cream, and seeds
    “Top-down shot of a clear glass mixing bowl on a white marble surface, filled with a lumpy blend of crushed buttery Ritz crackers, black poppy seeds, melted Parmesan, and flecks of bright orange cheddar. The ingredients are loosely stirred, showing chunks of cracker coated in cheese and seeds, with stray crumbs and seeds clinging to the sides of the bowl.”
  • Stir chicken into sauce
    “Overhead view of a square white ceramic casserole pan with handles, completely filled with an even layer of freshly shredded chicken breast. The pale, fibrous strands cover the bottom of the dish, resting on a marble countertop, bathed in clear natural light that accentuates each individual shred.”
  • Crush crackers with melted butter
    “A top-down shot of a square white ceramic baking dish with rounded handles, showing just the creamy chicken layer beneath (no topping yet). The smooth, pale surface of the chicken mixture fills the dish edge to edge, set against a clean white marble countertop under soft daylight.
  • Bake until topping is golden
    A white ceramic baking dish of homemade poppy seed chicken casserole with a golden breadcrumb-and-cheddar crust, black poppy seeds, and parsley, a wooden spoon lifting cheesy chicken and pasta strands.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Serving: 250g | Calories: 350kcal (18%) | Carbohydrates: 20g (7%) | Protein: 25g (50%) | Fat: 18g (28%) | Saturated Fat: 8g (50%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 85mg (28%) | Sodium: 800mg (35%) | Potassium: 400mg (11%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 3g (3%) | Vitamin A: 1500IU (30%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 100mg (10%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
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