Gift of Comfort

Chicken Poppy Seed and Rice Casserole

MAKES 8 TO 10 SERVINGS

We skipped the canned soup base and amped up the flavor of this comfort food classic with thyme, Dijon mustard, and lemon zest. Trust us, it’s more than worth the extra effort.

¾ cup unsalted butter
1¼ cups chopped red onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth, room temperature
1½ (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1½ tablespoons poppy seeds
1½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1½ tablespoons Dijon mustard
2¼ teaspoons kosher salt
1½ teaspoons packed lemon zest
¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
4½ cups shredded cooked chicken
4½ cups cooked long-grain white rice
3 cups small broccoli florets
2 cups crushed buttery round crackers
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic;