Poppy Seed Chicken is one of those recipes; it’s not the prettiest thing on the dinner table, but wow, is it cozy, creamy, and sure as heck tasty. This old-fashioned Southern casserole is loaded with tender chicken in a rich sour cream sauce, then finished with a generous layer of buttery crackers, with poppy seeds sprinkled throughout for its signature speckled look and subtle nutty flavor. I chose to make the sauce from scratch instead of using canned soup, and honestly, it makes all the difference. You still get all the nostalgic comfort with simple, budget-friendly ingredients, but it tastes a little fresher and more homemade!

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From-Scratch Poppy Seed Chicken

Old-school poppy seed chicken casseroles usually get their creamy texture from condensed soup, but I wanted to build the same cozy filling with a few basic pantry ingredients instead.…