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This simple Chicken and Rice Casserole only take a few ingredients and it bakes in 15 minutes or less. It’s creamy and cheesy and a recipe that you are going to love. This is a great recipe to make and serve a large group of people or the next potluck you got to!
This Chicken and Rice Casserole is a classic dinner. It’s a recipe that my mom used to make and a favorite of mine growing up.
My kids love it just as much as me and it has quickly become a staple meal in our home.
If you love a good classic dinner recipe, I think you would also like this simple chicken casserole recipe also.
I love quick and easy chicken and rice recipes, so I do have a few of those on the blog.
Table of Contents
- How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole:
- Ingredient Notes:
- Directions:
- Time Saver:
- Baking Directions:
- Tips for making Chicken Casseroles:
- Freezing this Chicken and Rice Casserole:
- Try some of my other favorite Casserole recipes:
- Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
- Cooking Tip:
- Freezing Chicken and Rice Casserole:
How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole:
This recipe is very easy. Just make sure you have cooked rice and cooked chicken. You can use my All-Purpose Slow Cooker Chicken recipe for the chicken if you would like.
Basically, all you need to do is mix all your ingredients together, and then top with cheese. Bake until it is heated through and the cheese is melted. Serve and enjoy!
Ingredient Notes:
- Chicken: that has been cooked and shredded.
- Instant Rice
- Cream of Chicken Soup: I used 1 family style can.
- Seasoning: Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper
- Cheese: I used shredded cheddar
Directions:
Step One: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start by cooking rice according to package directions.
Step Two: In a large mixing bowl mix cooked chicken, cooked rice, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Once everything is mixed add this to a casserole dish.
Time Saver:
I used instant white rice for this recipe to save myself some time. You can use any rice you enjoy for this recipe just prepare it first.
Step Three: Last all you need to do is top the casserole with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.
Baking Directions:
When your casserole is ready in the casserole dish bake for 15-20 minutes. Then remove it from the oven and serve and enjoy.
Optional: I topped mine with fresh diced parsley for garnish
Tips for making Chicken Casseroles:
This recipe is perfect with leftover chicken. I make my all-purpose slow cooker chicken at the beginning of every week and use the chicken for my recipes.
I use the chicken for easy wraps or salads for lunch. Then I add it to casseroles or soups for dinner.
Freezing this Chicken and Rice Casserole:
To freeze this recipe mix all ingredients together (cooked rice and chicken just like in the recipe) in an alumni casserole dish.
Cover tightly and place in the freezer for 2-3 months. Allow thawing in the fridge overnight then cook according to directions.
Try some of my other favorite Casserole recipes:
Tuna Casserole – A classic dinner recipe that the entire family will love. Even my kids asked for seconds of this Easy Tuna Casserole. It’s made with egg noodles and then topped with cheese before baking. Usually, I have most of these ingredients in my pantry, so if I need a quick meal, it’s this!
Tater Tot Casserole – This Tater Tot Casserole is one of the best casseroles you will ever make. Hearty and cheesy this casserole is going to be a favorite for many dinners to come!
Crack Chicken Casserole – This Crack Chicken Casserole is made with shredded hashbrown potatoes, bacon, and ranch seasoning. It’s a favorite with my family and a recipe you are sure to love.
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Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 cup Chicken, (cooked and shredded)
- 2 cup Instant rice
- 22.6 oz Cream of chicken soup, (one family style can)
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper , (to taste)
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, (shredded)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start by cooking rice according to package directions.
- In a large mixing bowl mix cooked chicken, cooked rice, cream of chicken soup, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Add this to a casserole dish.
- Top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes. Serve and enjoy. Optional: Top with fresh diced parsley for garnish.
we add ritz crackers to the top!!
Just wondering if it is two cups of rice before it is cooked and 4c cooked or 1c before cooked and 2c cooked rice?
I don’t see the size of casserole dish to use? Also, do you mean 2 cooked cups of rice, or precooked? Sorry…novice here!
It would be before cooking. Usually if it means cooked I try to add that to the ingredient list (2 cups cooked rice) to hopefully help that. And I used a 2 quart baking dish. Hope that helps and you enjoy this!
I made this for just my husband and myself. I added a bag of mixed vegetables to it and some paprika. I froze half for another meal and I’m glad I did! It’s very good and very filling!
Can you use regular rice?
Any rice would work since you cook it before. It would just change the prep time.
I upped the garlic power to 1/2 tsp and added 3 cups of steamed and drained broccoli. So delicious
Do you use water in this recipe?
No in the casserole. You will need water to cook the rice before mixing the casserole together but you will not add water to the casserole.
I added broccoli 🥦
I made this recipe for the first time and my family loved it! One child who is picky about casseroles sometimes, actually requested to take the leftovers in her lunch the next day! I did up the garlic powder & onion powder for added flavor that we usually like. Will definitely make this again.
This is the second time I made this. It is delicious!!! Even the hubster says it’s a keeper. I used 4-Cheese Mexican shreds because I had no cheddar. It worked great. However, I made it with the Panko crumbs this time, and I wasn’t impressed with them. When I make this again, and I will, I’ll leave them off.
Thank you so much !!! Best easy dish I’ve made by far. I don’t cook regularly so you saved me with this one ! I followed everything except I used ground chicken, creamy four cheese rice by Rice a Roni, & I added broccoli . Delicious !!
I made it for dinner tonight and love simple recipes! It was very creamy and good!
Love this recipe. It’s a comfort food for me and quick and easy!!
I made this with some left over crockpot chicken that I made for tacos the other night… I added some sour cream as well, and I also added some powdered ranch dressing. We like a crunch on top, so I did some Ritz crackers crumbled up with some butter, it was delicious! Next time I think I’ll either add some peas or maybe some broccoli.
Substituted rice for barley, substituted shredded chicken for finely chopped crispy chicken tenders, substituted cream of chicken for cream of broccoli. Kept the other ingredients and jazzed it up with some smoked paprika and Montreal steak seasoning. Recipes are good but if you don’t stray then you ain’t cooking right.
Your substitutes sound good and tasty. This is just a classic and simple to make chicken and rice casserole. But a Chicken and Barley Casserole may be something I need to add to menu soon.
That’s a whole different recipe.
I love this because it is so easy and tastes great. And I’m 63 and have cook for a family for 45 years.