Description

This Creamy Baked Chicken & Rice Casserole is a simple, comforting, and delicious one-pan meal perfect for busy weeknights. It features tender chicken and fluffy rice baked in a creamy, savory sauce, topped with optional melted cheddar cheese for an extra layer of flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
4 cups instant rice (white or brown)
2 cans (10.5 oz each) cream of chicken soup
2 cans (10.5 oz each) cream of mushroom soup
2 cans water (use the soup cans!)
2 envelopes onion soup mix
2 tbsp butter (for greasing)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme or parsley
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter.
In the baking dish, stir together the cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, water, instant rice, onion soup mix, garlic powder, and dried herbs until well combined.
Press the chicken pieces into the rice and soup mixture, ensuring they are mostly covered.
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).
Remove the foil. If using, sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a Tuscan style, add 1 cup chopped spinach and ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes to the soup mixture before baking.
For a Broccoli Cheddar version, stir in 2 cups of broccoli florets during the last 10 minutes of baking before adding the cheese.
To make a Wild Rice & Mushroom variation, swap instant rice for a wild rice blend and add 8 oz sliced mushrooms with the chicken.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use certified gluten-free cream soups and onion soup mix.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/6 of recipe)
Calories: 430 kcal
Sugar: N/A
Sodium: N/A
Fat: 18 g
Saturated Fat: N/A
Unsaturated Fat: N/A
Trans Fat: N/A
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: N/A
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: N/A

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