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    Home » Recipes » Everyday Meals

    Modified: May 17, 2023 · Published: May 20, 2022 by Melinda O'Malley Keckler · This post may contain affiliate links · this blog generates income from ads.

    Dutch Oven Chicken

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Dutch Oven Chicken is a great go-to recipe for dinner. It's easy-to-make comfort food. Tender chicken and caramelized onions are topped with nutty poppy seeds and a crunchy, buttery cracker topping. It's a tasty, company chicken casserole recipe to prepare outdoors in a cast iron Dutch Oven or inside in your home kitchen.

    A scoop of chicken with green beans and rice on a plate.
    Tender chicken and caramelized onions are nestled under a crunchy cracker topping.

    Dutch Oven Chicken is a classic comfort food recipe. If you are a fan of recipes like No Ketchup Meatloaf, Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel and Velveeta, Rotisserie Chicken and Stuffing Casserole or Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, then this is a recipe you are going to love!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients to Have on Hand
    • Why You'll Love Dutch Oven Chicken
    • Tiny, Nutty Poppy Seeds
    • Recipe FAQs
    • How to Get Ready to Dutch Oven Cook
    • What to Serve with Dutch Oven Chicken
    • Cooking Outdoors in a Dutch Oven
    • Equipment for Dutch Oven Cooking
    • Cooking Options
    • The Topping for Dutch Oven Chicken
    • What to Serve with Dutch Oven Chicken
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients to Have on Hand

    The grocery list for Dutch Oven Chicken is short (yay!) and most everything on the list is likely either in your pantry now or an item that can be found on a quick trip to the store.

    • Chicken Breasts
    • Onion
    • Sour Cream
    • Cream of Chicken Soup
    • Buttery Crackers, such as Club Crackers
    • Poppy Seeds
    Ingredients for the recipe arranged on an outdoor table.

    Why You'll Love Dutch Oven Chicken

    The prep time for Dutch Oven Chicken is fast.

    Essentially, it's a chicken mixture baked with a soup mixture. I like to keep cream of chicken soup on hand just for this dish. You can use cream of mushroom soup as an option.

    This is an easy-to-make chicken recipe using boneless skinless chicken breasts that your family will love.

    It's also relatively low carb, despite that crunchy, cracker topping.

    Tiny, Nutty Poppy Seeds

    You might wonder, why do we need to add something so little to this recipe?

    Poppy seeds might be tiny, but they add a mild, nutty flavor to Dutch Oven Chicken and they add a lot to this recipe! According to the Food Network, poppy seeds even have a bit of a health benefit.

    Bring on the poppy seeds!

    Recipe FAQs

    Where can I find poppy seeds?

    The grocery store in your neighborhood should have them. I usually find poppy seeds in the spice aisle but sometimes they are in the baking aisle. As an option, you can buy them here too.

    Do I have to use chicken breasts?

    Whether you use boneless skinless chicken breast halves, chicken tenders or even boneless skinless chicken thighs, you'll have a winner, winner chicken dinner.

    Diced chicken and chopped onions in a Dutch Oven.
    Place the diced chicken and chopped onion on top of the hot olive oil in the Dutch Oven.

    How to Get Ready to Dutch Oven Cook

    Unlike our home ovens where we just preheat the oven and prepare a large casserole dish, with outdoor Dutch Oven cooking we need to get the coals ready first.

    The charcoal will take about 20-30 minutes to reach the right temperature, you can tell when they're ready because the edges of the charcoal turn gray.

    Pro Tip: It may seem time-consuming to prep the charcoal, but this is usually the perfect amount of time to do some prep work for this easy chicken casserole, whether you need to melt a few tablespoons of butter, chop a few wedges of onion, mix soup or prep the remaining ingredients.

    Soup and sour cream added to Dutch Oven.
    Add the soup and sour cream to the cooked chicken and caramelized onions.

    What to Serve with Dutch Oven Chicken

    Whether you make this outside in a cast iron Dutch Oven or inside, this baked chicken recipe is a satisfying one-pot main course for dinner. The creamy sauce is delicious served with white rice, brown rice or even a wild rice mix. But, you could keep things really simple and serve it with a baked potato or even toast.

    Chicken and onions cooking in a Dutch Oven
    The chicken and onions cook together in the hot Dutch Oven.

    Cooking Outdoors in a Dutch Oven

    Have you ever made a meal outdoors in a big cast iron Dutch Oven? It's a fun and very easy way to fix a big pot of food. Talk about a conversation starter when you have company!

    Of all the chicken casserole recipes out there, this one is the best of both worlds. It's a flavor combination that even a picky eater will love yet it's fancy enough to serve guests and the total time from prep work to baking is pretty quick.

    Scroll down for a few "tricks of the trade" for Dutch Oven cooking.

    Fourteen coals on top of the Dutch Oven lid.
    Depending on the temperature outside and the weather, 14 coals on the lid is what you'll need to cook at 350° F.

    Equipment for Dutch Oven Cooking

    There are the items you'll want to have ready before your maiden voyage with Dutch Oven cooking. These are "must-have" utensils to help make the cooking adventure go smoothly with this simple recipe.

    10" Dutch Oven There are many size options in Dutch Oven cooking, some are much larger. But this 10" size holds 5 quarts which is big enough to prepare plenty of food.

    Lid Lifter. Of all the Dutch Oven accessories, this is probably the most important to have. Lifting a lid full of hot coals over high or even medium-high heat is something you don't want to risk with a potholder.

    Lid Stand This is important because you'll want a nice clean place to put your lid when you want to check what's cooking in the oven, or when you remove the lid so folks can dig in.

    Chimney Charcoal Starter This makes lighting all that charcoal a cinch. Place a few paper towels in the bottom of the chimney, count the number of coals you'll need, place them on top of the paper towels and ignite. Depending on the temperature outside, the charcoal is usually ready - the edges of the coals have turned gray - in about 20 minutes.

    The crunchy topping made with a cracker and butter mixture will bake to golden brown perfection.
    Cooked chicken casserole in a large Dutch Oven pot with a spoon.
    Ready to eat!

    Cooking Options

    Pro Tip: Just about any recipe that is designed for outdoor cooking in a Dutch Oven can be adapted for cooking or baking inside in your kitchen oven. The cooking time is very similar and this recipe is no exception. See below for a step-by-step for either option.

    When it comes to a Dutch Oven in my kitchen, this Le Creuset Dutch Oven is by far my favorite. It's durable, and beautiful, cooks food evenly and it's pretty enough to scoop up right from the pot.

    Chicken Casserole in the Oven
    Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes.
    Cooked chicken casserole in a pot on the stove with a wooden spoon scooping up a serving.
    Piping hot, creamy yet crunchy with a buttery cracker topping, this entree is a family favorite.

    The Topping for Dutch Oven Chicken

    Don't skimp on this part. It's an easy step and the melted butter combined with crushed crackers bakes into a crunchy, buttery topping that can't be beat.

    Pro Tip: You'll want to see the chicken and the sauce simmering under the cracker topping, but it doesn't need to reach a hard boiling point. Remember, the chicken was fully cooked in step one of the process.

    Chicken casserole with a large spoon in a Dutch Oven
    Another bonus of Dutch Oven cooking is you dish up right from the hot oven.
    A scoop of chicken with green beans on a plate.
    Tender chicken and caramelized onions are nestled under a crunchy cracker topping.

    What to Serve with Dutch Oven Chicken

    Here are a few side dish options that will be tasty with Dutch Oven Chicken.

    • A baking dish of butternut squash mac anc cheese with a large serving spoon.
      Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
    • Sweet corn salad on a plate with corn on the cob in the background.
      Sweet Corn Pasta Salad
    • A pot of cooked Mexican fried rice, with a large spoon dishing up a serving of the rice.
      Easy Mexican Fried Rice (Restaurant Style)
    • A bowl of green bean salad with a serving spoon, a napkin on the side and peppers near the bowl.
      Mixed Bean Salad

    If you tried Dutch Oven Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below.

    Recipe

    A scoop of chicken with green beans on a plate.

    Dutch Oven Chicken

    Tender chicken and caramelized onions are topped with nutty poppy seeds and a crunchy, buttery cracker topping. It's a tasty, company chicken casserole recipe to prepare outdoors in a cast iron Dutch Oven or inside in your home kitchen.
    4.99 from 171 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Charcoal Time, Only Needed If Cooking Over Coals: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 465kcal
    Author: Melinda O'Malley Keckler

    Equipment

    • 10" Dutch Oven, optional

    Ingredients 

    • 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 chicken breasts - about 3 cups of chicken
    • 1 cup onion - chopped
    • 1 can cream of chicken soup - undiluted
    • 1 cup sour cream
    • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
    • 2 cups crushed buttery crackers - 50 crackers, crushed
    • ¼ cup butter - melted

    Instructions

    Oven Baking in Your Kitchen

    • Preheat your kitchen oven to 350° F
    • Place olive oil in oven-safe skillet on the stove and heat until warm and shimmering. Add diced chicken and and onions and cook uncovered until the chicken is tender and the onions are caramelized, about 15 minutes.
    • Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup and the poppy seeds to the cooked chicken and onions, stir to combine.
    • Melt the butter and combine with crushed crackers. Sprinkle the crushed crackers and butter over the chicken mixture.
    • Bake uncovered in the oven for 30 minutes or until the top cracker crust is lightly browned and the filing is bubbling around the edges.

    Dutch Oven Cooking, Outdoors

    • Stack 22 charocoals into a chimney and ignite. The charcoal will take about 20-30 minutes to reach the right temperature, you can tell when they're ready because the edges of the charcoal turn gray. Arrange eight coals ina small ring on a fire and heat safe cooking surface.
      Place the Dutch Oven over the ring of hot charcoal. Add a little olive oil to the bottom of the oven and allow the hot coals to heat the oil, uncovered. Once the oil is heated, add the diced chicken and onions. Cook uncovered until the chicken is tender and the onions are caramelized, about 15 minutes.
      Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup and the poppy seeds to the cookied chicken and onions and stir.
      Melt the butter separately (in a pan on the stove or in the microwave) and combine with crushed crackers.
      Sprinkle the crushed crackers and butter over the chicken mixture.
      Place 14 coals on the lid of the Dutch Oven, cover and bake. Lift the lid and check after 30 minutes. The top crust should be lightly browned and the filling should be bubbling.

    Notes

    To be sure your chicken is cooked you'll want to see the chicken and the sauce simmering under the cracker topping, but it doesn't need to reach a hard boiling point. Remember, the chicken was fully cooked in step one of the process. Like Pork Chops and Sauerkraut, it's a one-pot meal. Serve this classic Dutch oven recipe with Sweet Corn Pasta Salad and  Country Potatoes, a family favorite potato casserole. 
    Serving: 5gCalories: 465kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 32gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgSodium: 410mgPotassium: 658mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 612IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 130mgIron: 2mg

    Please note, the nutrition details are estimated using a food database, so they’re just a rough estimate not an exact science.

    Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below or @crinkledcookbook on Instagram, snap a photo and tag it #crinkledcookbook
    5

    This recipe was adapted from one I found in a little paperback Southern Living cookbook a few years ago.

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    Comments

      4.99 from 171 votes (170 ratings without comment)

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    1. Carolyn Straub says

      December 05, 2021 at 12:41 pm

      Do you have to use the poppy seeds in the recipe I'm allergic to them, can I use something else if the recipe absolutely needs something like that ingredient for flavor?

      Reply
      • Melinda O'Malley Keckler says

        December 05, 2021 at 2:42 pm

        Hello! I made this once without poppy seeds (I was out of them, but didn't realize it until I was putting everything in the pot.;) It turned out yummy. The sauce was a little creamier and the flavor was still delicious!

        Reply
    2. Kathy Davis says

      September 10, 2021 at 4:56 pm

      4 stars
      Simple easy recipe...Easy and quick for working moms and dads...would love to have more recipes like this

      Reply

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