Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Introduction

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—brimming with creamy cheese, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked rice. This one-dish wonder is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for family dinners, potlucks, or any night you need a warm, hearty meal with minimal effort. Its blend of wholesome ingredients and irresistible cheesy goodness ensures it becomes a staple on your meal planning rotation.

Deliciously Unique Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This casserole stands out thanks to its simple preparation and classic flavors that everyone loves. The combination of juicy chicken, fluffy rice, and a golden, melty cheese topping delivers the perfect balance of creamy, savory, and satisfying in every forkful. Plus, it’s easy to adapt—swap in veggies, use leftover chicken, or try different cheeses to make it uniquely yours.

Preparing the Perfect Cheesy Base

Choose a blend of sharp cheddar and mozzarella for rich flavor and melty texture. Mix the cheeses into cream of chicken soup and chicken broth for a creamy sauce that coats every grain of rice and piece of chicken. Adding a touch of garlic powder or paprika can bring even more depth to your casserole.

Assembling Your Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

To assemble, simply layer cooked rice, shredded cooked chicken, your creamy sauce, and a hearty handful of cheese in a baking dish. Top with even more cheese and bake until bubbly and golden. This hands-off process leaves you more time with family—another reason it’s a weeknight favorite.

Serving Suggestions for a Show-Stopping Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Pair this casserole with a crisp green salad or steamed broccoli to balance out the richness. For extra texture, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, sliced green onions, or crunchy fried onions. It also reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes about 6 generous servings. Each serving typically contains around 425-475 calories, depending on cheese and soup choices. It’s a filling and satisfying main dish, perfect for sharing or saving as leftovers.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole (Recap)

A meal-in-one, this casserole’s creamy chicken, fluffy rice, and bubbling cheese make it a comforting favorite. Its simple steps and family-friendly appeal mean you’ll return to this recipe time and again.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine uncooked rice, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, 1 cup cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, peas and carrots, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until well mixed.
3. Fold in the shredded or cubed chicken until distributed evenly.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
5. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Drizzle with melted butter, if using, for an extra rich flavor.
6. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until rice is tender and the cheese is bubbly and golden.
7. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Weekly Meal Planning

This Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole is perfect for busy families or anyone who loves planning ahead. Save and schedule this recipe to organize your week, automate your shopping lists, and streamline your meal prep.

Planning Benefits:

Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities across all planned recipes

Groups shopping lists by grocery store section for quick, efficient trips

Helps avoid duplicate purchases and forgotten ingredients

Makes weekly meal prep easier and more organized

Pro tip: By scheduling your recipes for the week, CookifyAI will let you know the exact quantities you need (like total rice or chicken)—so you breeze through shopping and cut down on food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour to 1 hour 5 minutes