French Chicken Broccoli Supreme

French Chicken Broccoli Supreme

1 pound fresh broccoli florets, broken in pieces, steamed for 2 minutes

3 cups cooked, chopped chicken breasts (I used grilled)

Sauce

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 cup cold water

1/3 cup chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups milk

3 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided

Topping

2 tubes Ritz crackers

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Layer the broccoli and chicken in the prepared dish; set aside.

For the sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, cornstarch dissolved in water, chicken broth, salt, pepper, and milk. Stir well, and continue stirring until sauce has thickened. Turn heat to low, and add 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese, stirring until melted. Pour sauce over the layered chicken and broccoli. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the sauce.

For the topping: Crush the Ritz crackers in a large zip top bag with a rolling pin; don't crush too small. Combine crushed crackers, melted butter, and poppy seeds; mix well. Sprinkle crumb mixture over top of the cheddar cheese. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

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