While I like to experiment in the kitchen, sometimes it’s just nice to go with the familiar. And easy. That’s exactly what this Poppy Seed Chicken is for me. Familiar and easy. Honestly, I mostly make this from memory.
Do you have those dishes you make so frequently that you have to stop and think when someone asks you for the recipe? There’s a bit of comfort in that, I think.
This Poppy Seed Chicken screams comfort. I usually divide the casserole in half and freeze part for later use or share it with someone. It sure is nice to have a ready meal available in the freezer for those busy, busy days. It’s also nice to be able to share as well.
Serve this with a simple salad and vegetable side and your meal is made.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (or homemade cream of chicken soup)
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 deli rotisserie chicken breasts, skinned and shredded
- 1 cup frozen peas, thawed slightly
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 cup toasted slivered almonds, divided use
- 1 1/2 cups Ritz Crackers (crushed)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add olive oil and butter.
- Add onion, carrots, bell pepper and celery and cook until tender.
- Aleppo pepper flakes, thyme leaves and minced parsley; season with salt and pepper. Cook an additional minute.
- In a small bowl, mix the chicken soup with the sour cream; add to vegetable mixture.
- Stir in the chicken, peas, poppy seeds and 3/4 cup toasted almonds.
- Check seasonings.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
- Combine the crackers and remaining almonds in a small bowl. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the crackers are golden brown and the filling is bubbling.
- Allow to cool slightly and serve.
© 2026 Copyright Arkansas Women Bloggers
Oh, yes, I do have recipes like that. In fact, I cannot share my Italian sauce recipe anymore, because it’s become such a part of me that it changes with my mood. Not sure if that’s good or bad, since my kiddos come home thinking they know what “spaghetti” will be, but I’ve changed it so often, they don’t recognize it anymore.
And I don’t remember how the old version goes. 😀