Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (2024)

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This Cheesy Chicken and Rice is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe! It’s a creamy, flavorful rice dish that’s packed with chicken, vegetables and just the right seasonings.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Cheesy Chicken and Rice
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • What You’ll Need For Chicken and Rice
  • How To Make Chicken and Rice
  • Tips For Making Cheesy Rice
  • How To Serve Chicken and Rice
  • How To Store Leftovers
  • Can I Freeze Cheesy Chicken and Rice?
  • Try More Delicious Chicken Recipes!
  • Get the Recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice recipes are some of our very favorites to make during the busy weekdays. You are in for such a treat with my Weeknight Cheesy Chicken and Rice recipe!I love making quick and simple weeknight dinners. My family goes nuts for this flavor packed one pot dinner Weeknight Chicken and Rice. Love that you won’t be making a huge mess in the kitchen with this one. One pot dinners are my favorite! I used a rotisserie chicken for the chicken in this recipe. Feel free to cook your own if you desire. Pre-chopping your veggies helps with your prep time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • It’s packed with chicken, veggies and gooey cheese that everyone loves!
  • It’s easy enough to make during busy weeknights, but still great for weekend entertaining too!
  • Makes for great leftovers!

Try my Crock Pot Chicken and Rice recipe too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration!

Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (2)

What You’ll Need For Chicken and Rice

Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make this chicken and rice recipe at home. See the recipe card located at the bottom of the post for full instructions.

  • olive oil– I always use extra virgin olive oil for my cooking
  • carrots– You can get baby carrots and chop them or peel whole carrots and dice them.
  • celery– Wash your celery stalks and dice them.
  • onion– I generally use white onion for my cooking
  • garlic– To avoid chopping fresh garlic, you can use the already minced garlic in jars. Check the produce section of the grocery store.
  • chicken broth– Look for low sodium chicken broth.
  • white rice– In the rice section of the grocery store, many times you can find rice that is cooked, just needs microwaved. Saves more time.
  • paprika– Any dried paprika is fine.
  • garlic salt– Lawry’s is my go to for garlic salt.
  • red pepper flakes– Pour red pepper flakes into your hands and rub together for more flavor added to the dish. Wash your hands immediately after.
  • chicken– Shredding rotisserie chicken makes for easy weeknight dinner prep.
  • parsley– Fresh parsley needs washed, dried and chopped.
  • cheddar cheese– Mild shredded cheddar is a good choice, however your favorite blend works great.

How To Make Chicken and Rice

Saute Vegetables. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Saute carrots, celery, onions and garlic for 5 minutes until slightly softened.

Cook Rice In Broth. Pour in chicken broth and stir in rice. Cover with lid and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is cooked and liquid gone.

Season. Stir and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic salt and red pepper flakes.

Add Chicken and Parsley. Stir in chicken and parsley. Top with cheese and cover with lid to melt. Remove lid and serve warm.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (4)

Tips For Making Cheesy Rice

  1. Use cooked proteins from the grocery store to help save time. We like to buy a couple rotisserie chickens at the beginning of the week to use for a couple dinners during the week.
  2. Pre-chop veggies ahead of time. This is a huge time saver as well.
  3. Try to map out a meal plan at the beginning of the week so you are not at the grocery store numerous times buying groceries for dinner.

How To Serve Chicken and Rice

This meal is so great on it’s own, but try serving with a side of roasted vegetables, a nice chopped salad and a loaf of crusty bread for the table to share. This dish is perfect for giving to a friend in need as well.

How To Store Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Re-heat in a microwave save bowl/plate as needed.

Can I Freeze Cheesy Chicken and Rice?

If you would like, this recipe makes a great freezer meal too. Make a double batch and freeze one dinner for another time. Place cooled recipe in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Try More Delicious Chicken Recipes!

  • Crispy Sriracha Chicken Tenders
  • Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken
  • Easy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets

Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (5)

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

This Cheesy Chicken and Rice is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe! It's a creamy, flavorful rice dish that's packed with chicken, vegetables and just the right seasonings.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 275kcal

Author: Jenny

Cost: $25

Print Pin Rate

Equipment

  • Stove

  • cutting board

  • chef knife

  • large 3 quart skillet

  • large spoon for stirring rice

  • measuring cups

  • measuring spoons

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • 1 cup diced celery
  • 1 cup chopped white onion
  • 1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 1/2 cups white rice
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups cooked diced chicken
  • 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Saute carrots, celery, onions and garlic for 5 minutes until slightly softened.

  • Pour in chicken broth and stir in rice. Cover with lid and cook for 15 minutes or until rice is cooked and liquid gone. Stir and season with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic salt and red pepper flakes.

  • Stir in chicken and parsley. Top with cheese and cover with lid to melt. Remove lid and serve warm.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 275kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 718mg | Potassium: 339mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5910IU | Vitamin C: 13.6mg | Calcium: 144mg | Iron: 1mg

Keywords: best chicken and rice recipe, cheesy chicken and rice, cheesy chicken and rice casserole, chicken and rice casserole, chicken and rice recipe, easy chicken and rice recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (6)
Cheesy Chicken and Rice | Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make chicken and rice taste better? ›

Use fresh garlic and onion.

Use freshly chopped onion and garlic instead of the dried versions. I recommend 1/2 chopped yellow onion or 1 chopped shallot, and 3 pressed or minced fresh garlic cloves (or 4 if you're a garlic lover like me!)

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

What does the binder of a casserole do? ›

The binder, a liquid that holds the other ingredients together. – Fat-free milk, broth, fruit juice, soup, eggs, or a thickened Béchamel/White sauce.

What sauce goes well with chicken and rice? ›

Mojo Sauce is so delicious drizzled over a chicken & rice bowl. It's a vibrant green sauce with loads of flavor. If you enjoy a bit of heat and a touch of tanginess, buffalo sauce is a fantastic choice.

What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.
Nov 1, 2021

How do you add flavor to a bland casserole? ›

From boring to brilliant: Five easy ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. Advertisement. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chilli peppers. Adding something spicy is a sure way to transform an underseasoned dish. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 13, 2023

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Why did my rice not cook in my casserole? ›

Maybe you cooked it at too high of a temperature, evaporating the water long before the rice actually cooked. Maybe you took the lid off of the pot too early, letting the steam escape. Maybe you didn't add enough liquid to begin with.

How long should a casserole be cooked for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

What are the essential ingredients of a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

What does mayonnaise do in a casserole? ›

Mayo Is The Glue That Holds A Casserole Together

It's basically food glue that also provides other added benefits. Think of it as a culinary adhesive that offers more than just stickiness. Additionally, mayonnaise enhances the juiciness of dishes without making them overly moist.

Is rice a binding agent? ›

Easy to digest and rich in carbohydrates, rice has binding properties that help solidify loose stools.

How to jazz up chicken and rice? ›

Soak rice in chicken broth. Toss in spices/ seasonings, small white onion. Then add some veggies to your chicken. Peppers, broccoli etc.

What can I add to chicken to make it taste good? ›

Add a touch of spice to your chicken breast by combining paprika, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic and olive oil to create a paste. Then cover your chicken breast with the paste and pat down to secure.

How can I increase the flavor of my chicken? ›

Rub a whole chicken with olive oil, garlic, and this traditional mix of spices from southern France: savory, rosemary, marjoram, and thyme. Lavender, fennel, sage, tarragon, and even citrus zest are sometimes added.

References

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