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Creamy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Recipe

Poppy Seed Chicken – a beloved, comforting chicken casserole that’s simple to make. Tender chicken in a creamy sauce sits on rice and is finished with a buttery cracker and poppy seed topping.

This classic chicken dinner is a family favorite. Serve it with green beans, a fresh spinach salad, or roasted vegetables like zucchini and carrots for a complete meal.

poppy seed chicken casserole title photo

Here is a quick, weeknight-friendly main dish. Bite-sized chicken pieces are combined with a creamy mixture, spread over rice, and topped with a crisp, buttery cracker layer. This recipe has been passed around for years because it’s reliable, comforting, and always well received.

I learned this one from a college roommate, and it became a go-to dish for my family. Recently I added dry minced onion and a little Swiss cheese to the original version, which boosted the flavor and made the sauce extra creamy—my kids prefer it this way.

This casserole is also ideal to bring to friends or family—it’s easy to transport and usually pleases even picky eaters.

close up of poppy seed chicken casserole

How to make the Best Poppy Seed Chicken

Ingredients for this recipe:
  • cooked chicken breasts (homemade or rotisserie), cubed
  • cream of chicken soup (condensed canned or homemade)
  • sour cream (light or regular)
  • milk
  • dry minced onion (or sliced green onions)
  • Swiss cheese, grated (Parmesan can substitute)
  • cooked rice (leftover rice works well)
  • buttery crackers (Ritz or similar)
  • melted butter
  • poppy seeds
Start by crushing the crackers—place them in a resealable bag and crush with a rolling pin or pulse in a food processor. Combine the crushed crackers with melted butter and poppy seeds in a small bowl and set aside.
cracker topping for poppy seed chicken
In a saucepan, mix the chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, dry onion, and Swiss cheese. Heat gently over medium heat, stirring until warmed and smooth. Spread the cooked rice in a greased casserole dish, pour the chicken mixture evenly over the rice, then sprinkle the cracker-poppy seed topping across the surface.
making poppy seed chicken casserole
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the cracker topping is golden brown. Let it rest a few minutes before serving—this helps the sauce set slightly and makes serving easier.
poppy seed chicken in a casserole dish

Tips for making Poppy Seed Chicken

– If you don’t have Swiss cheese, grated Parmesan is a suitable alternative.

– Baking the casserole with the rice allows the sauce to flavor the rice as it cooks. If you prefer, bake just the chicken mixture and serve it ladled over freshly cooked rice.

poppy seed chicken recipe collage

MORE TASTY CHICKEN RECIPES

  • Italian Chicken Pasta
  • From Scratch Chicken Haystacks
  • Lemon Chicken Pasta
  • Mustard Chicken
  • Chicken Parmesan

Poppy Seed Chicken Recipe

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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Kara

Rice, creamy chicken, and a buttery topping make this a favorite family dinner recipe.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Course Main Dish: Chicken
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 491 kcal

Ingredients

Topping

  • 1 ½ cups crushed Ritz crackers (about 1 sleeve)
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter
  • 2 tsp poppy seeds

Casserole

  • 3 cups cooked rice
  • 3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
  • 1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup light sour cream
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp dry minced onion
  • ⅓ cup grated Swiss cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a casserole dish (9×13″) with nonstick spray.
  2. Crush the crackers and combine with melted butter and poppy seeds; set aside.
  3. Spread the cooked rice evenly in the prepared pan.
  4. In a saucepan, mix chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, dry onion, and cheese. Heat over medium, stirring until warmed through and smooth.
  5. Pour the chicken mixture over the rice and spread evenly.
  6. Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over the top.
  7. Bake at 350°F for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and the topping is golden.

Notes

The original recipe uses regular sour cream and more butter in the topping. This version lightens the dish, but feel free to use full-fat sour cream and additional butter if you prefer a richer result.

Nutrition

Serving: 1
Calories: 491 kcal
Carbohydrates: 41 g
Protein: 33 g
Fat: 21 g (Saturated Fat: 9 g)
Sodium: 739 mg
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 3 g
Keyword poppy seed chicken
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(Originally published Jan 4, 2009, updated August 2019.)