Lighter Poppy Seed Chicken

Taaaaayell me you’ve heard of poppy seed chicken.

Oh my gosh, my mom made it 45 billion umpteen bo bumpteen trillion times growing up, and just the name alone totally reminds me of weeknight homework, 30 minutes of Nintendo and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. It also reminds me of the local jail but I’m not supposed to bring that up. (oooopiiiiiiuuuummmmmm shhhhhhhhhhhh)

Okay don’t be cross, but I re-made it.

I made this sum-bia lighter, brighter, tighter and kryptoniter.

It’s actually kind of a funny story because Aaron had borrowed this fancy camera for the weekend from a friend of ours. He’s been really pushing me to experiment with video, but I keep reminding him of my overactive glands, yet he still continues to persist. Ahem.

So he drags out and is all, “Okay Bev, I’m going to record you making this casserole. Pretend it’s your show. Aaaaand go.”

Me, “What? Oh. OH. Hi. This is Bev Cooks. I guess. Wait, is my show the same name as my blog? I mean, it should be called Bev Cooks With No Make Up and the Homeless Pony Tail, HA HA HA. Oh. Okay. Um. I SUCK?”

Him, “Just keep going. Tell me what you’re doing with those ingredients.”

Me, “Oh. Okay. Well, I have some poached chicken here. You don’t have to call it poaching though if that makes you feel like a douche. Wait, can you say douche on TV? Hold on, erase that! My mom is going to see this!”

Him, “Bev, chill. Just roll with it. Keep talking.”

Me, “UGH. Let me at least redo this nasty pony tail. Okay, so here’s my chicken, and my can of cream of chicken soup. And my yogurt. And some spinach. And some tomatoes. And some DO YOU THINK I’M BORING? Like, should I use jazz hands or electric fingers? I mean just LOOK at these sweat circles on my armpits. It’s hot in here. Is it hot in here?”

Him, “Seeeeeriously. Stop over thinking it. Just take me through your process.”

Me, “Your face can take me through its process.” *giggle giggle*

Him, “Bev.”

Me, “FINE. So anyway, you mix it all up, blah blah blah. You dump it into a casserole dish, la dee da. WAIT. Should I have an accent?! Or a HAT. Oooooor what about one of those belts that lights up when you say certain ingredient names like TURNIP.”

Him, “You’re absolutely killing me right now.”

Me, “Your face is absolutely killing me right now.” *snicker snicker*

Him, “Let’s try this. Tell me how and why you lightened up such a classic comfort food.”

Me, “ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY I’M FAT?”

And that is the story of how I’ll never have my own show nor videos on my blog.  The end.

Lighter Poppy Seed Chicken:

What it took for 4:

* 2 chicken breasts, poached and roughly chopped
* 1 (10 oz) can cream of chicken soup (condensed)
* 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
* 2 cups baby spinach
* 1/2 cup dehydrated tomatoes (or sun-dried, pat dry)
* 2 Tbs. poppy seeds
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
* 1/2 cup panko
* 2 Tbs. butter
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 375.

In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cream of chicken soup, yogurt, spinach, tomatoes, poppy seeds, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to fully combine.

Transfer mixture to a 2 quart shallow baking dish.

Melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds. In small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and panko. Pour the butter over the mixture and toss with your fingers.

Evenly sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over chicken.

Bake casserole for 30 minutes, uncovered, or until the topping is golden brown. If you need to flip on the broiler to finish the browning, nothing bad will happen to you.

Serve and freak your entire face.

I miss Fresh Prince.

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34 Responses to Lighter Poppy Seed Chicken

  1. Callie November 16, 2012 at 6:45 am #
    This sounds and looks lovely. I'm a new member and really love all the step by step photos...much prefer that to a video :-) Keep up the lovely recipes. I will give this a try and see how it goes down with the family. No pressure. Never heard of panko....might need to buy that online if its a vital ingredient.
    • Bev Weidner November 16, 2012 at 9:57 am #
      Hi, Callie! If you can't find panko, no bigs. Just use a whole cup of breadcrumbs. BUT, the panko shouuuuld be right next to the breadcrumbs at the store. Hope you can find it!
    • Callie November 16, 2012 at 11:46 am #
      Cheers...a whole cup of breadcrumbs it is. Here in the UK you wouldn't get Panko in our regular supermarkets....or sadly glen muir tinned tomatoes (I love home made tomato soup)...so some of your recipe ingredients may be a challenge. But I'm rising to it....I ordered sambal oelek today to try your noodle dish.
  2. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective November 16, 2012 at 8:11 am #
    You know, that is awfully pretty for something coming out of a casserole dish!
  3. Christina November 16, 2012 at 9:17 am #
    great googly moogly! i have not thought of poppy seed chicken in ages, but i totally want some now. when you were typing "poppy" did it ever come out "poopy"? cause, yeah, that just happened to me!!
  4. Jill November 16, 2012 at 9:18 am #
    I have never had this before, but it looks awesome!
  5. Erin@LawStudentsWife November 16, 2012 at 9:22 am #
    Oh my goodness, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song is stuck in my head. And I'm actually kind of happy about it. Must be delirious from how yummy this casserole looks!
  6. Cindy M November 16, 2012 at 9:29 am #
    What a great story! Thanks for the laugh! :)
  7. Heather November 16, 2012 at 10:03 am #
    Sounds about right for how I act on camera as well haha. In West Philadelphia born and raised . . .
  8. Terry November 16, 2012 at 10:04 am #
    In the photos, it looks as if there is rice or quinoa in the casserole, but neither is listed with the ingredients. Please clarify this for me.
    • Bev Weidner November 16, 2012 at 10:09 am #
      Okay I just took another look and I'm thinking you're seeing the breadcrumb panko mixture kind of mixed in. It does look kind of like rice! But no rice or quinoa happenin' here. I hope this helps!
      • Terry November 16, 2012 at 10:17 am #
        Thanks for such a quick reply...cuz I'm going grocery shopping so that I can make this delicious-looking dish! I guess I am seeing the bread crumbs/soup mixture.
  9. Julie @ NaClKitchen November 16, 2012 at 11:02 am #
    If your show was as funny as your writing, I would certainly watch you-- cooking in a "homeless pony tail" is my typical night so watching someone who's a little more realistic would be refreshing. This looks delicious with or without video ;)
  10. Tessa November 16, 2012 at 12:27 pm #
    I have a feeling me trying to make a video would go similarly. I HATE watching myself on video (including just hearing my voice). Not sure I've ever had poppy seed chicken, but it looks great!
  11. Julie November 16, 2012 at 12:36 pm #
    Never heard of this! Can't wait to make it. A nice easy peasy meal !!
  12. Brian @ A Thought For Food November 16, 2012 at 2:24 pm #
    HAHAHA! POST. THAT. VIDEO. NOW.
  13. Cassie | Bake Your Day November 16, 2012 at 2:27 pm #
    So, yeah, this is totally new to me. But I LOVE it. Love the lighter version. And I agree with Brian. Post that video!
  14. Katie @ Blonde Ambition November 16, 2012 at 2:50 pm #
    Haha. I wish that video was on the internets. I don't know that I've ever had poppyseed chicken, but it looks pretty fantastic!
  15. Dan82904 November 16, 2012 at 4:24 pm #
    I have always enjoyed this blog since I found it, but I think this is the hardest I've laughed yet. I played this one out scene by scene in my head, and I can just see it with my wife and me... The "your face" comments definitely hit home with me. Thanks for the tasty, humorous treat :)
    • Bev Weidner November 16, 2012 at 4:37 pm #
      Dan, you've made my day. Seriously. Thank you so much for reading!
  16. Ashley - Baker by Nature November 16, 2012 at 5:12 pm #
    Everything about this post = love.
  17. Terry November 16, 2012 at 6:41 pm #
    Absolutely DELICIOUS! We followed the recipe exactly--wouldn't change a thing.
  18. Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen November 16, 2012 at 10:46 pm #
    Wow, that looks fabulous! I've never heard of it, but I'm intrigued!
  19. Tracey @ Cooking with Love November 17, 2012 at 7:09 am #
    So funny Bev,and I LOVE poppy seed chicken! I think I'm going to make this with a rotisserie chicken on a busy work week! thx! :)
  20. marla November 17, 2012 at 7:43 am #
    Nice!! Really, really nice. XO
  21. sara November 17, 2012 at 2:07 pm #
    I've never had this chicken recipe...it looks AMAZING...super delicious!
  22. Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} November 17, 2012 at 3:43 pm #
    Hilarious, Bev!! I was really hoping for a video at the end of this! Totally bummed. Either way, this looks great, and I'll take some please! :)
  23. danielle November 18, 2012 at 2:01 pm #
    I am definitely trying this one - I wanted to let you know that I featured this yesterday in my "What I Bookmarked This Week" post - stop by and see.
  24. stephanie @cookinfanatic November 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm #
    Haha that video recap is hysterical!! "are you calling me fat?!" I've never heard of this poppyseed chicken before but totally want in on this recipe, sounds delicious!
  25. suanne November 20, 2012 at 10:29 am #
    Made this last night and EVEVERYONE loved it! No leftovers!
    • Bev Weidner November 20, 2012 at 12:33 pm #
      Soooo glad to hear it, Suanne!
  26. Natalie @ Cooking for My Kids November 20, 2012 at 7:48 pm #
    Yummy, yummy in my tummy. And, I would totally watch your cooking show! Is it odd that I have missed you, and we have never even met? Well, you have still been here...but I haven't. And...enough rambling. Just know...I have missed you!
  27. Michelle November 27, 2012 at 5:08 pm #
    This one really cracked me up. I work in TV and I would totally do a show with you, homeless ponytail or not. xo

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  1. lightened up poppy seed chicken casserole | Drag it Through the Garden - December 23, 2012 [...] thrown into them (within reason, people). I had never heard of poppy seed chicken until I saw it on Bev Cooks, but as soon as I spied it, I knew I needed to make [...]

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