Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

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Enjoy a quick and delicious dinner with this Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole! Packed with chicken and veggies, this classic dish is ready in less than an hour.

A spoonful of cheesy rice in a casserole dish.

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Why Make This Cheesy Chicken and Rice
What You'll Need
How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole
Serving Suggestions
Storage Recommendations
Tips and Tricks
FAQs
More Easy Dinners
Recipe

This chicken and rice casserole is one of our favorite meals to make on busy nights. It's a comforting dish that is filled with plenty of meat and veggies.

The best part about this dinner is that you can use leftovers in it. We store bags of leftover rotisserie chicken in the freezer for quick and easy meals.

Casseroles are a great choice for a meal when you're on a budget. They are easy to prepare ahead of time and convenient when life gets hectic. A few of our favorites are chicken bacon ranch pasta, buffalo chicken pasta, and chicken Alfredo gnocchi.

Why Make This Cheesy Chicken and Rice

This easy-to-make casserole with broccoli and tender chicken pieces is delicious. Trus me, it will get two thumbs up from everyone at your table.

Simple To Make - Great for busy nights as it's quick to prepare and ready to eat in less than an hour.
Family-Friendly Meal - Your whole family will love it. It's a delicious dish that brings everyone together around the dinner table.
Classic Comfort Food - Nothing is quite like a rich and cheesy casserole. This classic recipe will warm your heart and soul.

What You'll Need

A white board with bowls of ingredients needed to make a rice casserole.

For this simple chicken and rice recipe, you will only need a handful of ingredients. Save time by keeping canned chicken in your pantry or rotisserie chicken in the freezer.

Chicken Broth - Substitute vegetable or beef broth if needed. You can also use water in a pinch, but you will want to add some salt for flavor.
Long Grain White Rice - You can use any rice you have on hand. Just make sure you have 3 cups of cooked fluffy rice for this recipe. A different type of rice may require adjustments to the liquid or cooking time when using it in this casserole.
Can of Cream of Chicken Soup - Substitute cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup if needed. The flavor will be different but still good.
Heavy Cream - Whole milk or half and half can be used in a pinch. Although, you may end up with a slightly runnier sauce instead of a thick, creamy casserole.
Shredded Cheddar Cheese - You can also change the cheese, using pepper jack for a spicier result or sharp cheddar cheese for more flavor.
Cooked Chicken - You can use any cooked or leftover chicken for this recipe. I do not recommend using raw chicken breasts in this recipe as they will not cook through in time.
Frozen Broccoli - Substitute fresh, steamed broccoli florets if desired. Be aware that the texture of the broccoli may vary depending on how much it is cooked.

How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole

Four pictures collaged together showing how to make a chicken casserole.

This cheesy chicken rice bake recipe is simple to make and tastes amazing! It's the perfect comfort food during chilly winter months or busy spring days.

Cook the rice. Bring the broth and long-grain rice to a boil. Cover and simmer until the liquid is gone.
Make the creamy sauce. In a bowl, combine the soup, cream, seasoning, and hot rice.
Assemble casserole. Add the chicken, cheese, and broccoli to the rice mixture, then dump it into a greased baking dish. Top with more cheese.
Bake and serve. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Serving Suggestions

This cheesy rice is a full meal on its own, but we love serving an extra side dish to offer variety. Here are a few favorites.

A white dish filled with rice, cheese, and chicken.

Storage Recommendations

In the Refrigerator - After allowing the casserole dish to cool to room temperature, cover it tightly. Store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

To Reheat - Place single servings on a microwave-safe plate; heat for 1-2 minutes or until the desired temperature is reached. For the full pan, remove it from the refrigerator 30 minutes ahead of time. Cover with foil and place in a heated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the center is hot.

As a Freezer Meal - Assemble the meal in a foil pan and then top with cheese. Cool on the counter for an hour, then refrigerate until chilled. Cover tightly and then place in the freezer for 2-3 months.

To bake, thaw in the refrigerator 24 hours ahead of time. Bake according to directions, adding 10-15 minutes.

Tips and Tricks

Use a rotisserie chicken. Save time in the kitchen and buy an already-cooked chicken instead of grilling or baking your own.
Add other vegetables. Add your favorite vegetables like peas, baby spinach, asparagus, bell peppers, or mushrooms to this rice bake.
Vary your shredded cheese. When making cheesy dishes, use your favorite cheese, such as smoked gouda, Pepper Jack, or Monterey Jack.
Use any cream of soup. Mushroom, celery, cheese, and chicken are great options, each offering a unique flavor.
Shred your cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated to prevent clumping, but it can taste grainy when melted. Shredding your cheese can prevent this issue.

FAQs

Do I need to cook the rice first?

It is necessary to cook the rice separately before adding it to the dish. There isn't enough extra liquid to properly absorb and cook the uncooked rice grains.

Can I make this without meat?

Make this meal vegetarian by omitting the chicken and then adding more broccoli or other vegetables.

Can I use other vegetables?

You can use any preferred vegetable, such as mushrooms, squash, peas, green beans, or frozen mixed vegetables.

A scoop of cheesy rice being lifted out of a dish.

More Easy Dinners

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