Poppy Seed Chicken
Shredded chicken in a creamy sauce topped with buttery cracker crumbs and poppy seeds, cooked for 35 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Shred the chicken coarsely.
Coat every crumb in butter.
If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes.
Season the sauce well.
Cooking Poppy Seed Chicken
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Heat the oven to 180°C / 355°F. Melt the 30 g butter, stir in the flour for 1 minute, then whisk in the milk and simmer for 3 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the soured cream, mustard, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
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Fold in the chicken and tip into a baking dish.
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Toss the crackers with the melted butter and poppy seeds and scatter over the top.
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Cook for 35 minutes until bubbling and golden.
Why the Method Works
It is a staple of church suppers in the American South: a creamy chicken filling under a crunchy, buttery topping. The topping is where the interest is, and it takes only crackers, butter and poppy seeds.
Cook the chicken first, either by poaching it for 15 minutes or by using leftover roast chicken, and shred it with two forks. Shred it coarsely, not to a paste, so that you can taste it.
The sauce is soured cream, a thick white sauce and a spoon of mustard, which stops it being heavy. Season well with salt, pepper and a pinch of garlic powder.
Crush the crackers and toss with melted butter and the seeds until every crumb is coated, or the topping will go pale. Spread it over the chicken. Cook at 180°C for 35 minutes, until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the top is golden. If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes.
After You've Cooked It
Keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat in the oven to keep the topping crisp.
What to Serve Alongside
- Green beans
- Rice
- Green salad
- Mashed potatoes
Questions and Answers
How long does Poppy Seed Chicken take to make?
About 50 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 35 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Poppy Seed Chicken?
Shred the chicken coarsely. Coat every crumb in butter. If your oven runs hot, check at 28 minutes. Season the sauce well.
What should I serve with Poppy Seed Chicken?
Green beans; Rice; Green salad; Mashed potatoes.
How should Poppy Seed Chicken be stored?
Keeps in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat in the oven to keep the topping crisp.
Is Poppy Seed Chicken suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is high-protein and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Poppy Seed Chicken?
About 533 kcal per serving, with 33 g protein, 26 g carbohydrate and 33 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
What's in a Serving
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
Reader Reviews
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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