Chicken Rice Casserole is a family favorite meal. Made of chicken and rice and cooked in a tender, comforting casserole. A favorite one dish dinner recipe!

Looking for more cozy dinner ideas? I think you’ll love my Chicken Noodle Soup, Pot Roast Recipe, and Easy Lasagna.

Growing up, there were certain dishes that we could depend on having in the way of comfort food: chicken and dumplings when it was cold or rainy, chicken soup when we didn’t feel well, and chicken and rice casserole to carry to friends and neighbors when they needed a meal to celebrate the birth of a child or mourn the loss of a loved one and everything in between, it seems.

It is a comfort food classic in my family and most likely in many others.

There are so many variations of this casserole dish, probably every family has their version, and then changes within the family as well. For my family, this flavorful version always hit the spot! 

Why I Love This Recipe

• Cozy, comforting meal. This is a wonderful one dish recipe when you need a cozy, comforting dinner idea.
• Easy recipe. It uses simple ingredients that are easily combined and baked in a baking dish for a one dish meal.
• Versatile. You can easily substitute or omit ingredients you don’t care for and include those that you do! I provide plenty of options!

Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

How to Make Chicken Rice Casserole Recipe

Ingredients

You will need a few simple ingredients to make this chicken rice casserole. I’ve included substitutions and variations as well.

• chicken – you will need 2 cups of shredded chicken for this recipe. I like to use the shredded chicken recipe I’ve shared previously. You can also use my Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken recipe or pick up a rotisserie chicken in the grocery store.
• rice – you’ll need 2 cups of cooked rice. You can use cooked white rice or brown rice.
• cream of chicken soup – you will need 2 cups of cream of chicken soup. You can also use canned soup if you prefer. You can use all cream of chicken or a combination of cream of chicken and cream of celery.
• onion – (optional) if used, you’ll use 1/2 cup diced onion.
• celery – (optional) if used, you’ll use 1/2 cup diced celery.
• mayonnaise – you can also use Greek yogurt.
• seasoning – you’ll need 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper. If you enjoy the added flavor of garlic, you can substitute the salt and pepper called for in the recipe with 1 teaspoon of Stone House Seasoning.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep. Preheat the oven to 425º F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or lightly coat it with butter or olive oil. Set aside.

Combine chicken rice casserole ingredients. Add all of the ingredients to a large mixing bowl and stir until combined.

Pour into baking dish. Spread the chicken rice casserole mixture into a prepared baking dish.

Bake. Bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is heated throughout and lightly browned.

Serve. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Variations

• Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole – Add 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese to the casserole mixture before baking.
• Mushroom Chicken Rice Casserole – Add 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms to the casserole mixture before baking.
• Original Chicken Rice Casserole – see the recipe notes for the original casserole recipe using uncooked rice and sauteed celery and onion.

Storage Tips

To make ahead. Prepare the chicken rice casserole without baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To serve, allow the casserole to sit out on the counter as the oven preheats. Adjust the baking time to make sure that the casserole has heated throughout.

To store leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To freeze. Prepare the chicken rice casserole without baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap followed by foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the baking instructions in the recipe. The baking time may need to be extended by up to 10 minutes to heat the casserole throughout.

Here’s my Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family always does!

Enjoy!
Robyn xo