Chicken Rice Casserole

A super easy, family friendly chicken rice casserole using pantry staples. A weeknight winner that is sure to make everyone want seconds!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 453kcal

Author Kylee Ayotte

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced celery
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper
3 cups cooked long grain rice
2 cups cooked chicken breast shredded or diced
2 cups cheddar cheese grated, divided
4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
2 tablespoons scallions chopped, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.
Sauté 1 cup diced onion and 1 cup diced celery until softened.
Add 2 cloves minced garlic1 cup diced celery and cook a further 30 seconds.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour over the top and mix well.
Whisk in 1 cup chicken stock and 1/2 cup milk and cook until thickened.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add 3 cups cooked long grain rice, 2 cups cooked chicken breast and 1/2 cup 2 cups cheddar cheese and 4 slices cooked and crumbled bacon (keep some for sprinkling) and mix until well combined.
Top with remaining 2 cups cheddar cheese and bake until the cheese melts and browns (about 15 minutes)
Garnish with 2 tablespoons scallions and extra bacon.
Devour.

Notes

I use leftover chicken or pull apart a rotisserie chicken and use that. You could poach some chicken breasts to use in your rice mixture. You want to be sure your chicken is cooked, as the time in the oven is basically for top browning, not chicken cooking.

Leftover rice is good in this recipe too, but if you don’t have any – just cook some up and you’ll be good to go. Instant rice is a good option if you need this fast!

What do do with leftovers

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and reheat until piping hot in microwave.

Substitutions/Additions

You can use brown rice if you prefer it to white.

You could substitute the butter/flour/chicken broth/milk mixture and use a condensed cream soup like cream of mushroom soup (or cream of chicken soup)

I use cheddar cheese, sometimes mixed with Monterey Jack. Whatever you happen to have will work!

Nutrition