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This is the Best Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe you will ever make! It is simple to make with under 5 minutes of prep time!

Made with a handful of ingredients, this dish is made from chicken breasts and fluffy rice in a delicious creamy sauce. It’s an inexpensive casserole dish that is a back to basics comfort food that everyone will love!

Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

When it comes to a casserole, there isn’t anything that says comfort food more. Casseroles are great for freezer meals, for potlucks and for make and takes to make life easier after surgery, having a baby or recovering from an illness. Whip together a double batch of chicken and rice casserole and bring someone the gift of food!

This easy chicken and rice casserole takes about an hour to bake up in the oven. With very minimal prep time, you can slide this casserole into the oven and help the kids with homework, maybe fold a load of laundry or enjoy some relaxation.

If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, this broccoli rice casserole makes for a delicious lunch the next day.

What Can I Make with Chicken and Rice?

Chicken and rice is a traditional combination. Some people enjoy baked chicken with a side of rice. Some people prefer to use it as a casserole. What makes chicken and rice casserole a great dish is because there are so many ways to change it up. Changing an ingredient or two can create a whole other dish.  

the best chicken and rice recipe cooked in casserole dish and spoon for serving

Variations to a Chicken and Rice Casserole

When it comes to a casserole, anything goes. It is easy to change up the dish, swap ingredients and make the casserole work towards your taste buds. When making Chicken and Rice casserole consider these variations:

  • Switch the veggies. While this baked chicken and rice casserole recipe calls for broccoli, it is easy to change it to carrots, peas or whatever type of vegetables you like. Add more than one vegetable to bulk up the vitamins and minerals.
  • Try turkey. You can swap the chicken with turkey to change the flavor or use leftovers.
  • Change the soup. While cream of chicken soup adds to the chicken flavor of this soup, you can change the cream of chicken to cream of mushroom or even cheddar soup. Each change creates a different flavor.
  • Change breadcrumbs for crackers. Some people like the buttery taste that crushed butter crackers. You get the same crunch as the panko but with a different flavor.
  • Try flavored rice. By adding a flavored rice instead of basic brown rice, you can change the flavors of this dish.

the best chicken and rice recipe ingredients in casserole dish

Ingredients to make Chicken Rice Casserole

The best easy chicken and rice casserole

  • Fresh broccoli florets
  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Campbell’s® Healthy Request® Condensed Cream of Chicken soup
  • Greek yogurt
  • Milk
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® brown rice
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Panko bread crumbs

the best chicken and rice recipe close up shot

How to Make Chicken and Rice in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

Add the broccoli and blanch for 1 to 2 minutes.

Remove the broccoli set aside. Add the chicken to the water and bring back up to a boil.

Cook until the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the chicken breasts and set on a plate to cool.

When cool enough to handle, shred the chicken breasts with a fork.

Microwave the rice according to package directions.

In a large bowl, mix the soup, yogurt, milk, salt, and pepper.

Add the chicken, broccoli, rice and ½ cup of the cheddar.

Use a large spoon to stir and combine, making sure the soup mixture evenly coats all of the ingredients.

Transfer the chicken and rice mixture to the prepared baking dish.

Top with the remaining ½ cup cheddar and the panko.

Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, about 20 minutes.

overhead shot of chicken and rice casserole

How to Store Leftover Chicken and Rice

In an air tight container, store any leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or the freezer for up to a month.

How to Reheat Chicken and Rice Bake

To reheat chicken and rice casserole, simply heat in the microwave for a few minutes. You may need to add a little chicken broth, water or milk to ensure the casserole isn’t dry.

You can also reheat in the oven at 350° for 15-20 minutes. Again, you will want to add liquid to ensure the broccoli rice casserole isn’t dry.

Try these other Chicken and Rice Recipes:

 

Recipe
the best chicken and rice recipe overhead shot
Recipe
4.75 from 4 votes
click the stars to rate!

The Best Chicken and Rice

Created by: Brooke Farmer
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
6 servings
Are you looking for the Best Chicken and Rice Recipe? This recipe is so versatile it will become a staple in your house, I'm sure of it! Change out the flavors, add in veggies and try different protein for a recipe you'll never get tired of.

Ingredients
 

  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 10.5-ounce can Campbell’s® Healthy Request® Condensed Cream of Chicken soup
  • cup plain 0% Greek yogurt
  • ¾ cup fat-free milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 8.8-ounce pouch Uncle Ben’s® Ready Rice® brown rice
  • 1 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli and blanch for 1 to 2 minutes, until it is bright green. Remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  • Add the chicken to the water and bring back up to a boil. Cook until the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts and set on a plate to cool. When cool enough to handle, shred the chicken breasts with a fork.
  • Microwave the rice according to package directions.
  • In a large bowl, mix the soup, yogurt, milk, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken, broccoli, rice and ½ cup of the cheddar. Use a large spoon to stir and combine, making sure the soup mixture evenly coats all of the ingredients.
  • Transfer the chicken and rice mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining ½ cup cheddar and the panko.
  • Bake uncovered until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, about 20 minutes.

Notes

Tips:
  • If all you've got on hand is frozen broccoli, that's no problem. You can sub it for fresh florets.
  • Another great time-saver is to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
SmartPoints: 6

Nutrition

Serving: 11/2 cups | Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 8g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

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