Description
This comforting Poppy Seed Chicken Rice-a-Roni Casserole combines tender cooked chicken, creamy soup, and a buttery Ritz cracker topping to create a delicious and easy-to-make baked dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 box chicken flavor Rice-A-Roni
- 1 (10.5-oz) can unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 cups cooked chopped chicken (or 1 whole Rotisserie Chicken)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp poppy seeds
Topping
- 1½ cups crushed Ritz crackers
- ¼ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350º F (175º C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Rice-A-Roni: Cook the chicken flavor Rice-A-Roni according to the package directions until tender and fully cooked.
- Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked Rice-A-Roni, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, onion powder, garlic powder, poppy seeds, and chopped cooked chicken. Stir thoroughly until well blended.
- Assemble casserole: Spread the rice and chicken mixture evenly into a lightly sprayed 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare topping: Combine the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter to create a crumbly topping. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- You can use leftover cooked chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken to save time.
- For a lower sodium dish, opt for reduced-sodium soup and crackers.
- Adding vegetables like steamed broccoli or peas can increase nutritional value.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated for up to 3 days.
- For a crispier topping, broil for 1-2 minutes after baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
