Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Poppy seed chicken casserole is easy, comforting, and ridiculously delicious! This creamy casserole has simple ingredients like tender chicken, rich sour cream, condensed soup, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping that gets golden and crispy in the oven.

Love More Chicken Recipes? Try My Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole or this Easy Orange Chicken next.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Takes less than 10 minutes to throw together—perfect for those nights when you’re running on empty
• Uses pantry staples and rotisserie chicken for maximum convenience
• Kids actually eat it without complaining (yes, really!)
• Makes enough to feed a crowd or have leftovers for lunch
• That buttery cracker topping is absolutely irresistible

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken Layer:

• 5 cups cooked chicken breasts, cubed or shredded (rotisserie chicken is your friend here!)
• 2 cups cooked rice (optional, but makes it a complete meal)

For the Creamy Sauce:

• 2 (10.75-ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, but recommended)
• 1 teaspoon celery salt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (optional)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper (optional)

For the Buttery Topping:

• 2 cups crushed Ritz crackers (about 1 1/2 sleeves)
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional, but they give it that classic look)

Why These Ingredients Work

The condensed cream of chicken soup creates that signature creamy, comforting base that coats every bite. Sour cream adds richness and a subtle tang that keeps the dish from feeling too heavy. Those Ritz crackers? They’re not just any topping—when mixed with melted butter, they turn into a golden, crunchy layer that contrasts beautifully with the creamy filling underneath. The poppy seeds add a gentle nutty flavor and those little speckles that make it look like you put in way more effort than you actually did.

The optional flavorings (Worcestershire, celery salt, garlic, lemon juice) transform this from good to absolutely fantastic. They add depth and brightness without requiring any fancy techniques. And if you layer rice on the bottom, you’ve got a complete one-dish meal that saves you from cooking a side.

Essential Tools and Equipment

• 9×13-inch casserole dish
• Mixing bowl for the sauce
• Separate bowl for the cracker topping
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon or spatula for mixing

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

Set your oven to 350°F. This gives you time to get everything assembled while it’s warming up.

Step 2: Prepare the Casserole Dish

If you’re using rice as a base, spread 2 cups of cooked rice evenly across the bottom of your 9×13-inch casserole dish. Then layer your cubed or shredded chicken on top. No rice? Just put the chicken directly in the dish.

Step 3: Make the Creamy Sauce

In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup and sour cream until smooth. If you’re adding the optional flavorings (and you really should when you have five extra minutes), stir in the Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, garlic, lemon juice, and pepper. Pour this creamy goodness all over the chicken.

Step 4: Create the Buttery Cracker Topping

In a separate bowl, combine your crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter. Mix until all the crumbs are coated. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the chicken and sauce, then finish with poppy seeds on top.

Step 5: Bake Until Golden

Pop the casserole into your preheated oven and bake for 20-30 minutes, until the top is beautifully browned and the sauce is bubbling around the edges.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Let it cool for just a few minutes, then serve it plain, over rice, or with your favorite sides.

You Must Know

This casserole is meant to be creamy and saucy—not firm like a lasagna. If you’re expecting something you can cut into squares, you’ll be surprised. It’s more spoonable, and that’s what makes it so comforting. The sauce needs to be a little loose so it can soak into the crackers and coat everything beautifully.

Make this the night before and let it sit covered in the fridge overnight. The flavors meld together, the crackers soften just slightly (but still get crispy when baked), and you’ll have one less thing to worry about when dinner time rolls around. Just add 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time if you’re starting from cold.

Pro Tips & Cooking Hacks

Use a potato masher to crush your Ritz crackers right in the package—saves you from dirtying another bowl or pulling out the food processor. Just remove some air first so the bag doesn’t pop.

If your family prefers more sauce, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chicken broth to the soup mixture. It thins it out just enough to make it extra saucy without being runny.

The biggest mistake people make is overbaking. Watch for those bubbles around the edges and that golden-brown top—once you see them, you’re done. Overbaking dries out the chicken and can make the crackers taste burnt instead of toasty.

Room temperature sour cream mixes more smoothly with the soup. Just take it out of the fridge while you’re gathering your other ingredients.

Flavor Variations & Suggestions

Swap the cream of chicken soup for cream of mushroom if you want a deeper, earthier flavor. Or use one can of each for the best of both worlds.

Stir a cup of shredded cheddar or Gruyere into the sauce for an extra cheesy version that’ll make everyone come back for seconds. Add a bag of frozen broccoli florets too, and you’ve got a complete meal with veggies included.

For a French onion twist, replace the sour cream with French onion dip and add some crispy fried onions to the topping alongside the crackers.

Fresh or dried herbs like thyme, parsley, or dill can brighten up the dish. Stir them into the sauce or sprinkle them on top before serving.

If you’re feeling fancy, add some sautéed mushrooms or water chestnuts for extra texture and flavor.

Make-Ahead Options

This casserole is practically begging to be made ahead. Assemble everything in your baking dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap, cover with foil for the first 15 minutes of baking, then uncover and bake until golden.

You can also freeze the assembled (unbaked) casserole for up to 2 months. Wrap it well in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking. Add about 10 extra minutes to the baking time.

The baked casserole keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. Just know that the crackers will soften as it sits, but it still tastes amazing reheated.

What to Serve With Poppy Seed Chicken

A simple green salad with vinaigrette cuts through the richness perfectly. Toss together some mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light lemon dressing.

Steamed green beans or roasted broccoli add color and a fresh vegetable element that balances the creamy casserole. Dinner rolls or garlic bread are perfect for soaking up any extra sauce on your plate.

If you didn’t add rice to the casserole itself, serve it over buttered egg noodles or fluffy white rice. For something lighter, try it over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.

Sweet tea, lemonade, or a crisp white wine like Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio pairs beautifully with this comfort food classic.

Allergy Information

This recipe contains dairy (butter, sour cream), wheat (Ritz crackers, condensed soup), and may contain soy depending on your soup brand. It’s not suitable for those with these allergies without modifications.

For dairy-free, use dairy-free sour cream and butter, and check that your condensed soup is dairy-free (or make a homemade white sauce with non-dairy milk and flour). Gluten-free crackers work just as well for the topping—just crush them the same way. Many brands make gluten-free cream soups now too, or you can make your own roux-based sauce with gluten-free flour.

Storage & Reheating

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The cracker topping will soften, but the flavor is still delicious.

To reheat, place a portion in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. For a crispier top, reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through. You can add a few extra crushed crackers and a drizzle of melted butter on top before reheating in the oven if you want to refresh that crispy layer.

Frozen casserole (baked or unbaked) should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight before reheating or baking.

Questions I Get Asked A Lot

My casserole turned out too dry, what happened?

This usually means it was either overbaked or there wasn’t enough sauce to begin with. Next time, add a splash of chicken broth to the sauce mixture and keep a close eye on the baking time. Pull it out as soon as the top is golden and the edges are bubbling.

Can I make this without the rice layer?

Yes! The rice is totally optional. It just makes it more filling and turns it into a complete one-dish meal. Without rice, you’ll want to serve it over noodles or with a side of rice or potatoes.

What if I don’t have Ritz crackers?

Club crackers or butter crackers work great. Even panko breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter and a pinch of salt will give you that crispy topping. The key is having something buttery and crunchy.

💬 Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to hear how it turned out and what your family thought. Did you add any special twists?