Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole

January 23, 2023
Looking for a main dish casserole the whole family will love? Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole's got you covered! With its creamy deliciousness and how easy it is to make, it's a hit with both kids and grown-ups alike. Take advantage of a store-made rotisserie chicken to make prep even that much easier!
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Serving Spoon of Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole Image

Sometimes I struggle to find main dish casseroles our whole family enjoys. Our tween-aged daughter is a plain-meat lover, so casseroles can sometimes be a challenge with her. But me? -- Casseroles are my favorite. Especially the creamy, cheesy comfort-food kind, a category in which this Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole belongs.

Growing up, my Mom made a lot of casseroles for dinner so it just became my favorite way to eat. I especially loved her Beef Stroganoff Casserole ~ so much so, I would often request it as my birthday dinner.

Our daughter, however, did not get this same casserole love -- much preferring a dinner of plain meat and a vegetable. The casserole struggle with her is real, my friends.

With its creamy deliciousness and how easy it is to make, Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole is a hit with both kids and grown-ups alike.

So the other night when I made Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole for dinner, I placed it on the table with a little trepidation, of course. -- Would she like it? Would she just push it around her plate to make it look like she'd eaten it? Would I get the disgusted face followed by the infamous, "Mommmmmy, I don't like it," whine??

I was hoping not.

Well my friends, I'm happy to report - she liked it!

Yes, Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole is a casserole that can actually be added to the regular dinner rotation. Which is great, because it's super easy to make. We hope this creamy deliciousness becomes a regular in your dinner rotation, too.

What's to Love About This Recipe?

  • Super easy to make - Taking advantage of a store-made rotisserie chicken makes this casserole's prep super easy! Though even if you cook your own chicken breasts or thighs, Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole's prep is still really simple.
  • Fabulous flavor - Chicken, rice, and cheddar cheese topping surrounded in a creamy, flavorful sauce delivers up fabulous flavor in every bite.
  • Family-friendly - This is one dinner dish that's adored by both grown-ups and kids alike.
  • Reheats well - This casserole's creamy base keeps it nice and moist, even when reheated. Warm leftovers in the microwave, or pop them back in the oven to heat up.

Close-Up of Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole in Baking Dish Image

Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole Ingredients:

This truly is a pretty simplistic casserole in its make-up - The base is just a simple mix of rice, chicken, and sauteed celery and onion. It then gets its comfort-food creaminess from cream of chicken soup, a touch of chicken broth, and a bit of cheese.

To whip up a pan, you'll need:

  • Chicken - The backbone of the casserole. Use a store-made rotisserie chicken for super easy prep, or cook your own chicken breasts or thighs to chop up.

  • Rice - The bulk of this hearty chicken casserole. We use cooked white rice, however cooked brown rice would work, as well.

  • Celery - Finely chopped celery adds flavor and nice textural crunch to the casserole.

  • Onion - Builds a base of flavor to season the dish.

  • Butter - Used to saute the casserole's chopped celery and onion. We recommend unsalted butter.

  • Cream of chicken soup - Brings in the creaminess to this creamy chicken casserole, and serves as the base of the flavorful sauce that surrounds the rice and chicken.

  • Chicken broth - Moistens the casserole mixture and sauce. Use your favorite canned brand, or homemade chicken broth if you have some on hand. We use and recommend Swanson brand chicken broth.

  • Chicken flavored bouillon cube - Stirred into the chicken broth-based sauce, a bouillon cube amps up the casserole's flavor.

  • Shredded cheddar cheese - Creates a nice cheesy topping for the casserole. Shred your own cheese from a block for the meltiest, creamiest result.

  • Salt & pepper - Seasons the casserole and enhances its flavor.

Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole Ingredients Image

How to Make Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole

Taking advantage of a store-made rotisserie chicken makes this casserole's prep super easy. Just remove the meat from the chicken and give it a quick chop to get this casserole started.

You can certainly use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs instead of rotisserie chicken, if you'd like. Simply cook those up and chop them into bite-sized pieces. I recommend seasoning the chicken generously with salt and pepper before cooking since they won't have the same rich flavor of a store-made rotisserie chicken.

Chopped Chicken, Celery, Onions, and Shredded Cheese on Cutting Board Image

To get the rest of the casserole mixture going, melt some butter in a pan and saute chopped celery and onion until they're softened. Then stir in chicken broth and a bouillon cube, breaking the bouillon cube up with a spoon and stirring until it's fully dissolved. 

Add in a can of cream of chicken soup, the chopped cooked chicken, cooked rice, and some shredded cheese, stirring until everything's well combined..

Once the casserole base is mixed all together, spoon it into a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Spooning Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole Mixture into Baking Dish Image

Finally, top the chicken-rice mixture with some shredded cheese, and bake it all up.

Since all the casserole ingredients are fully cooked and already warm when spooned into the baking dish, the casserole doesn't need a whole ton of time in the oven.

Bake it for about 30 or 40 minutes until everything is heated through and it's bubbly around the edges. I like the cheese to get a little bit puffy on the top, so I usually leave the casserole in the oven closer to the 40 minute mark. But it's good and ready after just 30 minutes if you want to get it on the table then!

Topping Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole with Shredded Cheese Image

And there you have it - one Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole the whole family will love! Pretty quick, pretty easy, and quite tasty, indeed.

Oh, and if you've got leftover turkey around? -- This casserole is a great way to enjoy those turkey leftovers, too. Chop the turkey up, and turn this into Creamy Turkey Rice Casserole instead!

Chicken ... turkey ... either way, with its creamy deliciousness and how easy it is to make, this dish is a hit with both the kids and grown-ups alike.


Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole Image
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chicken casserole recipe, chicken casserole, chicken rice casserole, chicken casserole with rice, creamy chicken casserole
Main dishes
American
Yield: 8-10 Servings
Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole

Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole

Looking for a main dish casserole the whole family will love? Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole's got you covered! With its creamy deliciousness and how easy it is to make, it's a hit with both kids and grown-ups alike. Take advantage of a store-made rotisserie chicken to make prep even that much easier!
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 45 MinTotal time: 1 H & 5 M

Ingredients

  • 1 rotisserie chicken, meat removed and cut into pieces
  • 1 c. finely chopped celery
  • 1/2 c. finely chopped onion
  • 4 T. butter
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • 1 chicken flavored bouillon cube
  • 1 (10.5 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
  • 3 c. cooked rice
  • 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • About 1/4 tsp. salt & 1/8 tsp. pepper, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Melt the butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Saute the celery and onion until softened, about 8-10 minutes.
  2. Stir in the chicken broth and bouillon cube, breaking the bouillon cube up with a spoon and stirring until dissolved. Stir in the cream of chicken soup.
  3. Add chopped chicken, cooked rice, and 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese. Stir until well combined.
  4. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining shredded cheese on top.
  5. Bake at 375℉ for 30-40 minutes until heated through and bubbly along the edges.
TRACEY'S NOTES:
  1. Taking advantage of a store-made rotisserie chicken makes this casserole's prep super easy. But you can certainly use boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs you cook yourself, if you'd like. Just cook those up and chop them into bite-sized pieces. I recommend seasoning the chicken generously with salt and pepper before cooking since they won't have the same rich flavor of a store-made rotisserie chicken.
  2. Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole can also be made with chopped leftover turkey.
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16 comments

  1. I've been craving a good chicken and rice casserole. Can't wait to give this one a try!

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  2. This recipe is full of comfort and great flavor! Thanks so much for sharing with us on Full Plate Thursday and come back real soon!
    Miz Helen

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  3. Can I use boxed chicken flavored rice our would that be too strong of a flavor with the bouillon and soup?

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    Replies
    1. I would leave the bouillon out. Part of the fun in cooking is tweaking recipes to our own taste. Please come back and let us know how it turns out.

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  4. How many cups of chicken do you think this is? My mother will not eat dark meat so I am afraid I would have to buy 2 chickens. Also, I have chicken buillon granules. How many teaspoons of granules do you think?

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  5. So very yummy! All races from my family last name guy and my son wanted leftovers for breakfast!

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  6. This is a great recipe! I've made it several times, and we love it!

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  7. Can you freeze this? It came out delicious...I used a rotisserie chicken and added Ritz crackers and cheese on top

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    Replies
    1. I would not freeze; freezing will change the texture. It may be a bit mushy after freezing.

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  8. My family loves this dish. I have made it countless times to take whenever there is an illness or a death.

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  9. Thanks for sharing at our What's for Dinner party! Hope your week has been great - come back again this Sunday for the new party too!

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  10. Love this recipe, but I wanted something lower carb. I substituted the rice for a small head if shredded cabbage. One of my and my husband’s favorite recipes. Thanks!

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  11. Very good! I added about 1/3 cup of sour cream. Will definitely make again.

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