Description
Creamy chicken rice casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table, packed with cheesy goodness and tender chicken that melts in your mouth. Weeknight meals never tasted so satisfying when this hearty one-dish wonder comes bubbling hot from the oven.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Proteins:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Grains and Base:
- 2 cups uncooked white rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 cans (10.5 ounces each) cream of celery soup
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 350°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray to ensure easy serving.
- Whisk 3 cups chicken broth, 2 cans cream of celery soup, and ¼ cup melted butter in a large mixing bowl until the sauce becomes silky and uniform.
- Add 2 cups uncooked white rice, 2 cubed chicken breasts, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the sauce. Blend thoroughly so every ingredient receives an even coating.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, smoothing the surface to create an even layer. Shield the dish completely with aluminum foil to trap moisture during cooking.
- Slide the covered casserole into the 350°F oven for 70 minutes. After this time, carefully remove the foil and gently stir to confirm even cooking and rice tenderness.
- Distribute 1 cup grated cheddar cheese across the casserole’s surface. Return the uncovered dish to the oven for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese melts into a golden blanket.
- Remove the casserole and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. This brief pause helps the dish settle and makes portioning easier. Serve warm alongside fresh greens or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Choose white or long-grain rice for the best texture and even cooking throughout the casserole.
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth and use plant-based chicken alternatives to make this recipe vegetarian-friendly.
- For extra flavor, sauté diced onions and mushrooms before mixing them into the casserole base for added depth.
- If your casserole seems dry during baking, splash a bit more broth on top to keep the rice moist and prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg