When you need a simple-to-put-together, comforting dish, turn to this one-dish chicken and rice bake. Uncooked rice is mixed with cream of mushroom soup and chicken broth or water, the boneless chicken is layered on top, and the casserole is baked until bubbling. For some added flavor and texture, top this chicken casserole with your favorite shredded cheese just before you take it out of the oven.
The recipe, inspired by a similar Campbells Soup dish and can be easily doubled for a large family. It makes a satisfying dinner when a tossed salad and biscuits are added. This casserole is versatile as well; feel free to toss in some vegetables for a complete meal, or sprinkle breadcrumbs on top to add some crunch.
“Great, easy, hearty one and done dish. Cooking raw rice in a casserole can be tricky, but this does a good job cooking the rice through.” —Renae Wilson
Always use UNCOOKED rice for a casserole. Just add boiling hot liquid and seal your ovenproof dish well. Your rice will cook perfectly well in the oven, no need to pre-boil the rice.
Steps to Make It
- Gather the ingredients. Heat the oven to 375 F. The Spruce
- In a bowl, combine the condensed soup, broth or water, rice, paprika, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to blend. The Spruce
- Lightly butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. The Spruce
- Transfer the rice mixture to the prepared baking dish. The Spruce
- Place the chicken breast halves on top of the rice mixture. The Spruce
- Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and additional paprika and black pepper. The Spruce
- Cover the casserole tightly with foil and bake for 45 to 65 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked to 165 F and the rice is tender.
- If desired, sprinkle with the cheese and broil uncovered until the cheese is brown and bubbly, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve. The Spruce
For a premade casserole that is in a glass baking dish and has been refrigerated, do not place it directly into a hot oven as the glass can shatter. Instead, place any cold glass bakeware into a cold oven to warm up while it preheats. Or allow the bakeware to rest outside of the fridge for 30 minutes to reach room temperature while the oven heats up.
- According to the USDA, a serving of chicken is 3 to 4 ounces. Chicken breast halves are usually 5 to 8 ounces and sometimes larger. If the chicken breasts seem too big, cut 2 chicken breast halves horizontally to form four cutlets.
- Although many chicken casseroles call for cooked chicken, this recipe works with raw chicken because of the sauce. Just be sure to test the meat for doneness before serving; it should be at 165 F.
- If you like crunchy topping on your casseroles, finish with a buttered breadcrumb topping. Toss 1 cup of fine soft breadcrumbs with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake the chicken and rice as directed and then sprinkle with the cheese and/or the breadcrumbs. Place the casserole under the broiler and broil just until the breadcrumbs are browned. Panko crumbs (tossed with the melted butter) may be used for a crispier topping.
- Add 1 cup of steamed peas and carrots or mixed vegetables to the rice mixture.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of lightly steamed broccoli florets to the rice mixture.
- To the rice mixture, add 1/2 cup of chopped onions and 1/4 cup of chopped bell pepper.
- Sauté 6 to 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms and add them to the rice.
- Instead of condensed cream of mushroom soup, or cream of chicken or cream of celery soup, try condensed cheddar cheese soup.
- If youd like to use the slow-cooker, try a slow cooker chicken and rice casserole.
One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake
FAQ
Does rice need to be cooked before adding to casserole?
Why did my rice not cook in my casserole?
Do you have to cook rice before baking?
Can I use regular rice instead of minute rice in a casserole?
Can you cook uncooked rice in a casserole dish?
While most casserole recipes call for cooking the rice before mixing it into the dish, this particular recipe is designed specifically for uncooked rice. That means that you do not boil the rice in a saucepan on the stovetop before adding it to the casserole dish. Instead, the rice cooks right in the oven with the rest of the ingredients.
Can one survive on rice alone?
An individual can even survive eating only rice for a certain time, but over time nutritional deficiencies and deficiencies will arise and as a consequence diseases will settle in and fatally death.
Should you cook rice before cooking a casserole?
If your casserole recipe doesn’t include a lot of liquid or doesn’t have a long cooking time, it may be better to use pre-cooked rice, or partially cook the rice before adding it to the casserole. This will ensure that the rice is fully cooked when the casserole is ready.
What kind of rice do you use in a casserole?
Fresh or frozen, it works well in this recipe. Rice is the foundation of our casserole. Whether you prefer white, brown, or wild rice, it will absorb the flavors and add a satisfying texture. For a deeper understanding of how rice works in cooking, check out the science of cooking rice.