Trace Adkin’s Go-to Weeknight Casserole Is a 5-Star Favorite

We’ve all found ourselves on a hectic weeknight scouring through easy recipes to get on the table quickly—and with minimal complaints from those we’re serving. And when I say we’ve all been there, I truly mean it. 

Even someone like country superstar Trace Adkins needs an easy weeknight go-to for those busy nights when it’s time to get supper on the table for his five children. Adkins admitted that he likes to keep mealtime simple in the 2014 Southern Living cookbook, “Country Music’s Greatest Eats: Showstopping Recipes and Riffs From Country’s Biggest Stars”.

Trace Adkins’ Go-To Weeknight Recipe

Simple for Adkins looks pretty similar to what the Allrecipes community would whip up in a time crunch. It’s a casserole made with condensed soup, buttery Ritz crackers, and chicken that comes together in a little over an hour.

“On the rare days when the family is home and settled, they like a nice, simple meal—something along the lines of the classic Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole, which everyone enjoys,” the Southern Living cookbook reads.

The “You’re Gonna Miss This” singer turns to the creamy Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole for an easy dish that only takes 20 minutes of prep time. He’s not the only one, as our recipe has more than 200 5-star reviews from the Allrecipes home cooks—making it a fan-favorite.

How to Make Trace Adkins’ Favorite Casserole

The beauty of the Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole is that it only requires a few pantry staple ingredients. Adkins’ recipe is nearly identical to our version, which is made with cooked chicken breast, crushed Ritz crackers, melted butter, poppy seeds, condensed cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and Cheddar cheese; the singer also adds a can of cream of mushroom soup.

Our easy recipe starts with fresh chicken breast that’s boiled and shredded; however, for easier prep, you can start with rotisserie chicken and simply shred it yourself. To make the Southern dish, you’ll layer the soup and sour cream mixture in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish, then top it with chicken, more soup or sour cream, and cheese, and finish it with the crushed crackers and poppy seeds held together with melted butter.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes, or until bubbly, and serve. Adkins says his family enjoys the rich and creamy chicken casserole with a side of rice, green beans, and dinner rolls.

Now, I know a poppy seed chicken casserole isn’t what Adkins was singing about when he said, “make ya wanna swing along,” but I think the same expression might apply after you take a bite of this tasty, five-star dish.