This chicken and rice casserole is one of those dinner recipes that’s easy to make, and at least at our house, we can eat the leftover for days. I sort of love a meal that stretches like that— it’s a real life-saver for this current season I’m in. Lol.
I like to make my chicken and rice casserole with broccoli, but you could omit it or even swap it out for something else like mushrooms.
I also like to make chicken and rice casserole without canned soup. Nothing against the soup versions! This is just how I prefer to make it.
You likely have already noticed I like to top mine with French fried onions! I know, it’s a little different. I feel like French fried onions don’t get enough love, as the main thing they are known for is Thanksgiving green bean casserole.
I like the flavor and crunch they add to this dish, but if you want to swap them out for a cup of shredded cheddar cheese instead (for a more traditional chicken and rice casserole), be my guest.
Do you cook the rice before adding to the casserole?
No, that is one of the great things about this dish. Even though we are making it from scratch, it’s still essentially a baked risotto dish in that you add the uncooked chicken AND uncooked rice to the casserole dish (with the liquid) and bake it all together. Simple!
If you love a casserole for dinner (and the leftovers the following days), you might also like:
I love to serve this alongside a big salad or another vegetable side dish, but this chicken and rice casserole is also a great meal all on its own.
If you make this, I’d love to know what you think in the comments. You can also leave a star rating based on your experience, which is helpful to other readers. Thank you in advance! xo. Emma
Chicken and Rice Casserole
an easy meal made from chicken, rice, and broccoli
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
2
chicken breasts
about one pound
1
cup
broccoli florets
chopped
2
cups
long grain white rice
3
cups
chicken stock
1
cup
milk
¼
cup
butter
2
chicken bouillon cubes
1
teaspoon
garlic powder
½
teaspoon
cayenne
1
teaspoon
Italian seasoning
salt and pepper
1
cup
French fried onions
or shredded cheddar cheese
Cube the chicken breast (if frozen, thaw first).
Chop up the broccoli if using.
Butter a rectangle casserole dish. Add the chicken, broccoli, and rice.
In a large pot, combine the chicken stock, milk, butter, bouillon cubes, and other seasoning. Heat over medium heat and stir until everything is well combined.
Place the casserole pan on a baking sheet. Pour the liquid over the rice and chicken mixture in the casserole pan. Cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes. During the last 15 minutes, remove the foil and add the French fried onions or cheese to the top.