Description
BEST EVER Chicken and Rice Casserole — a creamy, comforting one-pan dinner with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a savory cheddar finish. Cream of chicken and mushroom soups blend with broth and milk to create a rich, bubbly sauce baked until golden. Easy to customize with chicken breasts or thighs, optional parsley, and pantry staples. A cozy weeknight favorite, ideal for cold weather and meal prep, yielding 6 servings of hearty, family-friendly comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1½ cups long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- Optional: chopped parsley for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In the dish, whisk together rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, broth, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Nestle the chicken breasts on top of the rice mixture. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with a little extra seasoning if desired.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake 1 hour.
- Remove foil, top with cheddar cheese, and bake another 10–15 minutes until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
- Can use chicken thighs or breasts depending on preference.
- For a lighter version, use reduced-fat cream soups and skim milk.
- If rice is not fully tender after the initial bake, re-cover and bake a few more minutes until done.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: Approximately 520
- Sugar: ~6 g
- Sodium: Approximately 700 mg
- Fat: ~28 g
- Saturated Fat: ~14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ~45 g
- Fiber: ~2 g
- Protein: ~40 g
- Cholesterol: ~120 mg
Keywords: BEST EVER Chicken and Rice Casserole, creamy chicken rice bake, one-pan dinner, easy casserole, family dinner, cozy weeknight meal, comfort food, cheesy chicken rice