Name: Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole for the Table
Yield: 8

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with chicken, rice, broccoli, and the best buttery crunch on top!

author’s note

A Childhood Favorite, Made From Scratch

I don’t usually crave casseroles, but this one is the exception! My mom made Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole all the time growing up, and it was one of my favorites, right up there with her creamy tuna pasta.

Her version used cream of chicken soup, like so many classic casseroles do, and I loved every bite. For this version, I wanted to make it from scratch with a quick from-scratch cream sauce, and it makes the casserole extra creamy, cheesy, and so good.

Ingredients for Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole prepped for assembly, including cheese, rice, chicken, broccoli, panko, and sauce ingredients.

Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Ingredients

Ingredient	Let’s Chat About It
Basmati rice	Stick with basmati here since it works best with this quick boiling method.
Broccoli	Cut into small, even pieces and dry well after boiling so the sauce doesn’t get watered down.
Chicken	Rotisserie chicken or leftover grilled chicken makes this recipe extra quick. Chop it small so every bite gets some.
Milk, stock, sour cream & Cheddar	Skip skim milk in this Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole so the sauce doesn’t end up too thin.
Panko & butter	Toast the panko first for the best crispy, buttery topping.

Quick Tip

Sharp Cheddar gives the casserole more flavor than mild. Freshly shred it so the sauce melts smoothly and doesn’t turn greasy.

Cheesy cream sauce being whisked in a pot, broccoli cooking, and Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole being layered in a 9x13-inch pan.

How To Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Prep: Rinse the rice, boil the broccoli for a few minutes, then drain and dry it well.
Cook Rice: Boil the rice until tender, then drain and spread it in a 9×13-inch pan.
Layer: Add the broccoli and chicken evenly over the rice.
Make Sauce: Whisk the sauce until smooth and creamy, then mix in the poppy seeds.
Bake: Top with cheese and toasted panko, then cover and bake until bubbly.

the cook’s Notes

What To Serve On The Side

Garden salad: Keeps the meal fresh and simple.
Cucumber salad: Crisp and fresh next to this creamy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole.
Fruit salad: A sweet, straightforward side that everyone loves!
Dinner rolls: Great for scooping up the creamy sauce.
Roasted carrots: straightforward, colorful, and great with chicken.

Chicken and cream sauce added to the pan, topped with panko, and baked until the edges turn golden for Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole.

Storage

Leftover Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole?

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm in a 350°F oven or microwave in short bursts, stirring between.
Freeze: Freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.