Poppy seed chicken is one of my favorite comfort food meals! The sauce is so rich and creamy and the Ritz cracker topping is buttery and crunchy!
How to make poppy seed chicken:
There are 3 main parts to this recipe: the chicken, the creamy filling, and the crunchy cracker topping. All three are easy to make!
The first part is the chicken. You want to make sure that you season the chicken really well. The rest of the dish doesn't get additional seasoning so this is your opportunity to pump up the flavor.
You'll also want to make sure the chicken is cut into bite size pieces so you won't need to worry about cutting it once served. When you cook the chicken, be sure not to over-cook it since it will also be going in the oven. I find using a stainless skillet works best for getting good color quickly on the chicken. Here is a link for the exact pan that I use.
How to keep the chicken from sticking to a stainless steel pan:
They key is to heat the empty pan first. Do not add the cooking oil until your pan is hot. Once hot, add in the oil, then the chicken. It may seem like it's sticking at first but it will release easily as it cooks.
When your chicken has a nice golden color to it, you can add it to a greased 9x9 pan. This was about 3 large chicken breasts.
The next part is the creamy filling. It's also where we add the poppy seeds! (Side note: I've made this before with no poppy seeds because I ran out and it's still amazing!) The filling is just sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and poppy seeds. This mixture gets spread over the cooked chicken.
The final part of the poppy seed chicken is without a doubt, my favorite part - the ritz cracker topping! It's just melted butter and crushed ritz crackers. I also sprinkle a little bit more poppy seeds on the very top of the casserole because...why not!
How long do you cook poppy seed chicken?
The chicken gets cooked in the skillet for just about 7-10 minutes and then the entire dish gets baked in the oven for 25 minutes. Over all, a fairly quick meal!
Just look at that golden buttery ritz topping! You'll want to make sure you let this sit for about 10-15 minutes before serving so it's not runny and the juices redistribute through the chicken. You'll definitely be ready to dig in after smelling this while it cooks!!
What to serve with poppy seed chicken:
If you're wondering what sides go with poppy seed chicken, here are a few options. We like to serve poppy seed chicken over a bed of white rice (Click here for easy instructions on how to make white rice). It's perfect for mixing with the creamy sauce! Another option would be a simple side salad (this is a heavier dish so a lighter side is always great). Any steamed green vegetable is always a great option too!
Poppy Seed Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast (about 3-4 breasts cut into bite sized pieces)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or cooking oil of your preference)
- 2 cans of cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces each)
- 16 ounces sour cream
- 2 and ½ cups crushed ritz crackers (about 2 full sleeves)
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds (plus more for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x9 square baking dish with non-stick spray.
- Mix together the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cut your chicken into bit size pieces and sprinkle with the seasoning.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium heat and cook your chicken until slightly browned and just cooked throughout. Make sure not to over cook since it's going back in the oven.
- Add your chicken to the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together your sour cream and **cream of chicken soup, and 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds. Once combined, spread this on top of the chicken.
- Add your butter to a microwave safe bowl and melt in the microwave.
- Crush the ritz crackers, I like to just crush them in their original sleeve but you could also add them to a large zip-top bag to crush. Once crushed, add them to the melted butter and toss to coat.
- Spread the ritz crackers over the top of the cream mixture then sprinkle the top of the dish with a bit more poppy seeds.
- Place in the oven for 25 minutes (uncovered) until the top gets a little browned. You may want to set your baking dish on top of a sheet tray in case you have any liquid that bubbles over.
- After cooking, let it cool for about 15 minutes before serving. ENJOY!!
Notes
Amy says
This looks very similar to something my mother used to make! Except hers didn't have poppy seeds, but the sauce is pretty much the same. I used to love it.
Coco and Ash says
Awesome!! I loved this dish growing up as well! 🙂
Jenn says
I've never heard of this, which is surprising because it totally looks like a midwest comfort food dish! Interesting combo with the poppy seeds!
Coco and Ash says
It's totally comfort food!! And thank you!
Luci's Morsels says
I love all of the textures and flavors in this recipe, from the soft rice to the crunchy crackers. Delicious!
Coco and Ash says
Thank you so much!
Brandi Crawford says
I haven't had this combo. Looks fab!
Coco and Ash says
Thank you Brandi!
Anya says
Love that creaminess between the chicken pieces. I bet this casserole is so flavorful!
Coco and Ash says
Thank you!! It definitely is full of flavor! 🙂