With only healthy ingredients like condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, cooked cubes of chicken, and rice, this poppy seed chicken casserole recipe can be made in less than an hour.
For nights when you don’t know what to make for dinner, you’ll want to keep this poppy seed chicken casserole recipe handy. With just 15 minutes of prep work and 30 minutes of baking, dinner comes together in under an hour. Also, this casserole recipe has a lot of healthy ingredients, like sour cream, cooked chicken cubes, and condensed cream of chicken soup. This makes it a full meal all in one. Unfussy dinner recipes don’t get much easier (or tastier) than this chicken poppy seed casserole.
Poppy seed chicken is a classic comfort food casserole that is creamy, tangy and irresistibly delicious. The rich and savory chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of side dishes that can complement, balance or contrast its flavors and textures.
As a food blogger and home cook, I make poppy seed chicken often for my family. Over the years, through much experimentation, I’ve narrowed down 10 side dishes that I think make the perfect accompaniments. These are my go-to sides to serve when making this scrumptious casserole.
Why Serve Side Dishes With Poppy Seed Chicken?
Before jumping into the recipes, let me first explain why it’s worth putting thought into what sides you choose to serve. Poppy seed chicken is often heavy and rich. Serving appropriate side dishes can help to:
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Balance flavors and textures: A creamy, indulgent chicken casserole tastes even better when paired with something refreshing and lighter, like a crisp salad or fresh vegetables. This contrast makes for a more complex and enjoyable meal.
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Add nutrition: Poppy seed chicken doesn’t have a lot of nutrients. Vegetable sides are a great way to add more vitamins, minerals, and fiber to your meal.
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Keep your taste buds from getting tired: the sour flavors in the casserole can get too much on their own. Adding different tastes to each bite keeps the dish from getting boring.
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Enhance presentation: Multiple side dishes add visual appeal by providing an array of colors and textures on the plate.
With the benefits explained, let’s look at 10 of my top recommended sides for poppy seed chicken casserole.
1. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts roasted until crispy and caramelized are the perfect balance to the soft, creamy chicken. The slight bitterness also cuts through the richness. Simply toss halved sprouts with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 400°F for 20-30 minutes, stirring halfway. The high heat helps bring out the Brussels sprouts’ nutty sweetness.
2. Coleslaw
Crunchy, cooling coleslaw is a classic companion to serve with heavier comfort foods. The tart and tangy dressed cabbage and carrots serve as a bright, fresh counterpoint. I love making coleslaw from scratch, but a high-quality store-bought works fine too. Just be sure to avoid anything with excessive mayo.
3. Quinoa Salad
Quinoa salad, which is high in protein, is a more interesting and healthier choice than grains like rice or noodles. For a Greek-style mix of tastes and textures, I like to make mine with quinoa, chickpeas, cucumbers, tomatoes, and feta. The quinoa salad with vinaigrette goes well on a platter with the hot chicken casserole.
4. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
To soak up all that tasty creamy sauce, what could be better than creamy mashed potatoes? Mash Yukon gold or russet potatoes with butter, cream, garlic, and Parmesan for the most comforting, creamy carbs ever. Don’t add too much fat or salt; the casserole already has enough of those.
5. Sauteed Green Beans
For a classic vegetable pairing, you can’t go wrong with tender green beans sauteed in olive oil and garlic. I like to add slivered almonds for crunch. The simplicity of the dish lets the green beans’ fresh flavor shine through. This works as a lighter alternative to heavy potato or bread sides.
6. Roasted Broccoli
Like Brussels sprouts, roasting broccoli concentrates its flavor while also producing caramelized browning and texture. Toss florets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and roast at 425°F, turning once, until browned in spots and tender. The slight char pairs well with the creamy casserole.
7. Dinner Rolls
Fresh from the oven, soft and warm dinner rolls can soak up all of the delicious creamy sauce. Store-bought rolls like King’s Hawaiian save time, but I prefer homemade. Try this easy 20-minute recipe for pillowy soft golden rolls that require just 5 ingredients. Brush with melted butter for extra richness.
8. Fruit Salad
For a lighter, fruit-forward accompaniment, a fresh fruit salad adds vitamins, fiber and hydration. I like to do a mix of berries, pineapple, grapes and orange segments tossed in a honey and lime dressing. The sweetness and acidity cuts through the creamy sauce nicely.
9. Classic Caesar Salad
A crispy, cool Caesar salad is a go-to side for rich chicken dishes. The crunch of the romaine, savory Parmesan, bright lemon, and rich eggy dressing pairs perfectly. Just hold the croutons if the casserole will already be topping enough. Garnish with grilled chicken breast for extra protein.
10. Skillet Cornbread
Golden, crispy edged cornbread can round out the meal and satisfy any craving for something freshly baked. I love how quick and easy skillet cornbread can be. My recipe turns out cornbread with a moist crumb and caramelized crunchy edges in just 20 minutes of active time.
Serving Suggestions
When serving poppy seed chicken casserole alongside these tasty sides, keep a few tips in mind:
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Vary textures and flavors in each bite. Combine soft mashed potatoes, tender chicken and crunchy slaw in one forkful.
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Offer lighter sides like salads and veggies first when appetites are sharper. Bring out the heavier carb sides once hunger is blunted.
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Let any guests who want seconds help themselves family-style from platters on the table.
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Set an attractive table to reflect the care put into the meal. Use your nice dishes and linens. Add fresh flowers or candles.
Pairing Drinks
In addition to great side dishes, take your poppy seed chicken dinner to the next level with perfect drink pairings:
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Sparkling wine – The bubbles and acidity cut through the creaminess perfectly.
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Riesling – A sweeter white wine mirrors the casserole’s sweet-tangy flavors.
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Iced tea – For a lighter option, freshly brewed iced tea washes it all down.
Ingredients for Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
- Sour cream gives this poppy seed chicken casserole a rich, creamy texture and helps hold the ingredients together. It also adds important moisture to keep the casserole from drying out while it’s baking.
- That’s right, you need to use condensed cream of chicken soup to make this casserole. This is soup that has been boiled until most of the water has evaporated, leaving behind a thick, gelatinous stock. The highly concentrated ingredient enhances the casserole’s savory chicken flavor.
- Poppies: The poppies that are spread out in the casserole give it a mildly nutty taste and a little crunch with each bite.
- Dill weed: The leafy part of a dill plant is dill weed. Dill weed that you buy in a store usually comes in a jar and is the dried plant.
- Cubed cooked chicken: To save time, buy chicken that has already been cooked at the store. If you want even more flavor, choose shredded rotisserie chicken, which has both dark and white meat.
- Cooked rice: Instead of making rice from scratch, use frozen or already cooked rice.
- Butter-flavored cracker crumbs: Don’t crush the crackers too much so they keep their crunch while they cook.
- Butter: The butter adds more flavor to the crushed cracker crumbs and helps the casserole brown as it bakes.
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Tips
Sarah Tramonte for Taste of Home
How To Make Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
FAQ
What is a good side dish with poppy seed chicken?
IngredientsProduce. • 1 French fries. • 1 Green beans and carrots. • 1 Mashed potatoes. • 1 Oven roasted veggies. Frozen. • 1 Rice pilaf. Deli. • 1 Coleslaw. • 1 Pasta salad. • 1 Spinach salad.
What foods go well with poppy seeds?
In Central and Eastern Europe, they are sprinkled onto cakes, breads, biscuits and bagels, and added to potato, egg, pasta, cream and cheese dishes.
Do you put cheese in poppy seed chicken?
I mix the condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, shredded Cheddar cheese together and then add chopped onion, cubed potatoes and vegetables to the ….
What’s a good side dish for a chicken casserole?
16 Delicious Side Dishes for Your Chicken DinnerCrispy Parmesan Potatoes. Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm. Creamy Polenta. Elise Bauer. Stir-Fried Mushrooms with Garlic and Chile Oil. Coconut Lime Rice. Baked Acorn Squash with Butter and Brown Sugar. 5-Minute Yamitsuki Cabbage. Garlic Fried Rice. Lyonnaise Potatoes.