Tasty Chicken Casserole

It is a blustery day here in Tennessee.  It was in the 80's this weekend and we are under a freeze advisory for tonight.  I am ready for the warm weather to return later in the week, but in the meantime we will be enjoying chicken casserole.  I found this recipe a few years ago and we love it! It is super easy!  It calls for you to boil the chicken but I have never done that.  I always bake some chicken and shred it or buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it.  I think that adds more flavor than boiling the chicken

Here is what I do.

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts, baked and shredded (or a rotisserie chicken, shredded)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 8 ounces sour cream
• 1 package crackers ( I am using Ritz today)
• poppy seeds
• about 2 cups cheddar cheese (or any other tasty cheese - we have used the Mexican shredded cheese before because that is what we had on hand)
• butter (about 1/2 cup) I don't measure it.  I just add until it coats the crackers.

I am not one to mix things in a bunch of bowls.  I mean who wants more dishes to wash.  I mix everything in the dish that I am going to bake it in.

Since I am not one to boil the chicken, I love to bake it in the oven.  I bake two chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, in the oven with just a sprinkle of salt and pepper on both sides.  I bake it at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  I shred it with two forks once it is done.  If you want, you can also just pick up a rotisserie chicken at the store.  I do that all the time for recipes.  I just pull all the meat off the bone and shred it up.  I think either is a much tastier option for this recipe.  

In my baking dish, I mix the sour cream and chicken soup.  I then add the shredded chicken and mix it in.  Next, I melt some butter in a bowl and mix in crackers and poppy seeds.  I add the cheese to the top of the chicken mix and top that with the crackers.  Since everything is cooked you are just really heating and melting things in the oven.  I cook at 350 for about 25 minutes.  It is delicious. 

Here is a link to where I first discovered this fantastic recipe!!!

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Poppy-Seed-Chicken-Casserole/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=poppy%20seed%20chicken%20casserole&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i1