Poppy Seed Hen is one among these recipes; it’s not the prettiest factor on the dinner desk, however wow, is it cozy, creamy, and certain as heck tasty. This old style Southern casserole is loaded with tender rooster in a wealthy bitter cream sauce, then completed with a beneficiant layer of buttery crackers, with poppy seeds sprinkled all through for its signature speckled look and delicate nutty taste. I selected to make the sauce from scratch as a substitute of utilizing canned soup, and truthfully, it makes all of the distinction. You continue to get all of the nostalgic consolation with easy, budget-friendly components, nevertheless it tastes a little bit more energizing and extra do-it-yourself!
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From-Scratch Poppy Seed Hen
Outdated-school poppy seed rooster casseroles often get their creamy texture from condensed soup, however I needed to construct the identical cozy filling with a number of primary pantry components as a substitute. A fast butter-and-flour roux thickens the rooster broth and milk right into a easy sauce, whereas bitter cream provides it the tangy richness this casserole is understood for. I additionally sear the rooster earlier than baking, so it has higher taste and doesn’t launch an excessive amount of moisture into the dish.
In the event you grew up seeing poppy seed rooster casserole at household reunions, potlucks, or church suppers, this model will really feel very acquainted. However in the event you didn’t, I’m excited to be the one who introduces you to it! This recipe is precisely the type of no-fuss consolation meals I like. Suppose creamy rooster, a savory sauce, and a crunchy cracker topping baked till golden and effervescent across the edges. It’s easy, nostalgic, and this one feels a little bit extra do-it-yourself with out making dinner really feel difficult. In the event you love creamy rooster casseroles with a crunchy cracker topping, our million greenback rooster casserole is the cheesier, mushroom-studded model to attempt subsequent!
- Sear the rooster first. Patting the rooster dry and searing it over medium-high warmth helps it brown as a substitute of steaming. This provides taste and retains additional moisture from watering down the casserole because it bakes. After searing, I like to empty the rooster briefly on paper towels earlier than folding it into the sauce.
- Flip the warmth down earlier than making the sauce. The rooster sears greatest over medium-high warmth, however the sauce wants gentler warmth. Reducing the skillet to medium helps the butter and flour prepare dinner evenly with out scorching.
- Don’t skip the roux. The butter and flour create a easy roux, which thickens the sauce and provides it a creamy consistency with out heavy cream or canned soup. Let it prepare dinner for a few minute earlier than including the liquids so the flour loses its uncooked style.
- Whisk within the liquids slowly. Including the broth first and whisking till easy helps forestall lumps earlier than the milk goes in. As soon as the sauce appears to be like thick and easy, flip off the warmth earlier than stirring it along with the bitter cream so all the pieces stays creamy.
- Flip off the warmth earlier than including the bitter cream. Bitter cream can separate if it will get too sizzling too quick. I wish to stir it in after the sauce is thickened and the skillet is off the warmth. This retains the filling easy, creamy, and tangy as a substitute of grainy.
- Wish to use cooked rooster? You need to use about 4-5 cups of cooked, shredded, or diced rooster rather than the uncooked rooster breasts. Skip the searing step and fold the cooked rooster into the completed sauce with the bitter cream and poppy seeds.
- Add veggies if you wish to bulk it up. Mushrooms, spinach, onions, carrots, or peas all work properly on this poppy seed rooster casserole. Simply prepare dinner off as a lot moisture as doable earlier than including them so the ultimate casserole stays thick and creamy as a substitute of watery.
Poppy Seed Hen
Price $8.68 recipe / $1.45 serving
This creamy Poppy Seed Hen casserole has tender rooster in a do-it-yourself sauce with bitter cream, buttery crackers, and poppy seeds. Straightforward consolation meals with NO canned soup!
Collect and put together all components. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it apart.
Pat the rooster dry with paper towels and season evenly with ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.
Warmth oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. As soon as sizzling, add the cubed rooster in a good layer. Sear in batches if wanted.
Prepare dinner undisturbed for 3 minutes, then flip, and prepare dinner for an additional 3 minutes. Take away the rooster from the skillet and place it on paper towels to empty. Put aside.
Flip the warmth to medium and soften 2 Tbsp of butter within the skillet, then sprinkle within the flour and prepare dinner for about 1 minute, stirring consistently.
Slowly whisk within the rooster broth, whisking till it thickens, for about 1 minute.
Subsequent, whisk within the milk, remaining salt and pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Hold whisking till thick and easy, for about 2 minutes. Flip off the warmth and put aside.
Place the rooster in a bowl. Pour the sauce, bitter cream, and half (1½ teaspoons) of the poppy seeds into the bowl. Fold all the pieces collectively and place it within the greased casserole dish.
Soften the remaining butter in a medium bowl and add the crushed crackers and remaining poppy seeds to it. Fold collectively till mixed.
Then prime the casserole evenly with the poppy-seed buttery crackers.
Bake the casserole, uncovered, within the oven for about half-hour till golden brown.
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**I take advantage of Higher Than Bouillon to make my broth as a result of it’s budget-friendly, simple to maintain available, and lets me combine up solely what I want!
***I take advantage of buttery crackers for my topping (e.g. Ritz crackers or buttery rounds) and preserve them pretty giant once I crush them for added texture. In the event you solely have saltines or different crackers available, you should utilize them as a substitute.
You may make the recipe forward of time! Assemble the casserole as much as the baking step, cowl it tightly, and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. Wait so as to add the buttery cracker topping till simply earlier than baking, so it stays crisp, then add a number of additional minutes to the bake time if the casserole is chilly from the fridge.
Serving: 1serving (1 cup)Energy: 493kcal (25%)Carbohydrates: 18g (6%)Protein: 36g (72%)Fats: 30g (46%)Sodium: 989mg (43%)Fiber: 1g (4%)
methods to make Poppy Seed Hen step-by-step images
Collect and put together all of your components. Preheat the oven to 350°F, then coat a 9×9-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set it apart.
Slice the rooster: Reduce 2 lb. rooster breasts into 1-inch cubes, trimming away any extra fats or robust items as you go. Maintaining the items about the identical dimension helps them prepare dinner evenly within the skillet.
Season the rooster: Pat the rooster dry with paper towels so it browns properly within the skillet. Now season it evenly with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper.
Sear the rooster: Warmth 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. As soon as the oil is sizzling and shimmering, add the rooster in a good layer. Work in batches if wanted so the items have house to brown.
Let the rooster prepare dinner undisturbed for about 3 minutes, or till the bottoms are golden. Flip and prepare dinner for an additional 3 minutes. The rooster will end cooking within the oven, so don’t fear if it isn’t totally cooked by way of but. Switch the rooster to a paper towel-lined plate to empty. Put aside.
Make the roux: Cut back the warmth to medium and soften 2 Tbsp butter in the identical skillet. Sprinkle in ¼ cup flour and whisk consistently for about 1 minute, till the combination appears to be like easy and paste-like. This helps prepare dinner off the uncooked flour taste!
Whisk within the broth: Slowly pour in ½ cup rooster broth whereas whisking. Hold whisking for about 1 minute, till the combination thickens and begins to look creamy as a substitute of skinny and watery.
End the sauce: Whisk in ½ cup room temperature milk, the remaining ¾ tsp salt, the remaining ½ tsp pepper, ½ tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp garlic powder. Proceed whisking for about 2 minutes, or till the sauce is easy, thick, and coats the again of a spoon. Flip off the warmth.
Mix the casserole filling: Add the seared rooster to a big bowl. Pour the sauce over the rooster, then add 1 cup bitter cream and 1½ tsp poppy seeds. Fold gently till the rooster is coated in a creamy sauce.
Crush the crackers: Place 1 sleeve buttery crackers in a zip-top bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin or the underside of a measuring cup. Goal to have a number of bigger items for additional crunch. Don’t crush them right into a advantageous powder!
Make the buttery cracker topping: Soften the remaining 4 Tbsp butter in a medium bowl. Add the crushed buttery crackers and the remaining 1½ tsp poppy seeds. Stir till the cracker crumbs are evenly coated and look buttery all through.
Assemble: Unfold the poppy seed rooster casserole filling evenly into the ready casserole dish.
Prime the casserole: Sprinkle the cracker combination evenly over the rooster filling, ensuring the entire floor is roofed for a golden, crunchy topping.
Bake till golden and effervescent: Bake uncovered for about half-hour, or till the cracker topping is deep golden brown and the creamy filling is effervescent across the edges. The rooster ought to be totally cooked by way of and attain 165°F earlier than serving. Get pleasure from!
Serving Ideas
Poppy seed rooster is wealthy, creamy, and saucy, so I like serving it over one thing easy like white rice, brown rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes. My recipe makes 6 servings (1 cup every), which makes it nice for household dinners, Sunday supper, meal trains, potlucks, or vacation gatherings. If you would like a straightforward facet you possibly can prep whereas the casserole bakes, my inexperienced bean salad provides one thing cool, crisp, and tangy subsequent to the creamy casserole. Our lemon pepper zucchini is one other scrumptious choice. It comes collectively shortly and retains the meal vibrant and easy! Steamed broccoli, peas, carrots, or a primary facet salad are all simple sides, too.
Storage & Reheating
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for 3-4 days. The cracker topping will soften because it sits, however the filling reheats properly! You may as well freeze leftover poppy seed rooster in an hermetic freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Reheat particular person parts within the microwave in brief intervals till warmed by way of. For the perfect texture, I wish to reheat bigger parts in a 350°F oven, coated with foil, till sizzling within the heart. Take away the foil for the previous couple of minutes if you wish to assist the topping crisp again up a little bit.
Attempt These Scrumptious Hen Recipes:
- Hen Cobbler is pure cozy dinner power, with creamy rooster and veggies baked below a do-it-yourself cheddar biscuit topping till golden and bubbly.
- I make this Lemon Pepper Hen on a busy evening once I need one thing quick however nonetheless vibrant and flavorful, due to the tender rooster breasts and easy lemony pan sauce.
- Our Southwest Hen Skillet retains dinner additional simple as a result of the rice cooks proper within the skillet with salsa, black beans, shredded rooster, and cheese.
