Description
Comfort meets elegance in this creamy chicken & rice casserole delight recipe from Southern kitchens. Hearty ingredients blend seamlessly, promising warmth and satisfaction for hungry family members who crave classic home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (280 g) cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 ½ cups (150 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) uncooked white rice
- 3 cups (720 ml) chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) milk
- 1 can (10.5 oz or 298 g) cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup (120 g) sour cream
- ½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs or crushed crackers
- 2 tbsps melted butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and thoroughly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent adherence.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk chicken broth, milk, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into a velvety, harmonious liquid blend.
- Mixture Integration: Combine uncooked rice and shredded chicken within the creamy sauce, ensuring complete and uniform coating of all ingredients.
- Baking Setup: Carefully transfer the mixture into the prepared dish, distributing evenly to guarantee consistent cooking and optimal flavor penetration.
- Moisture Sealing: Cover the casserole with aluminum foil, creating an airtight environment that promotes rice tenderness and prevents excessive moisture loss.
- Primary Cooking Phase: Bake the covered casserole for 40-45 minutes, allowing rice to absorb liquid and reach perfect textural consistency.
- Cheese and Topping Application: Unveil the dish, lavishly sprinkle shredded cheese across the surface, and dust with breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter for a crisp, golden exterior.
- Final Browning: Return the uncovered casserole to the oven for 10-15 minutes, monitoring the cheese’s bubbling and the breadcrumb topping’s transformation into a golden-brown crust.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the casserole to rest briefly after removing from the oven, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish before serving.
Notes
- Prevent Rice Sticking: Stir rice occasionally during baking to ensure even cooking and prevent grains from clumping or burning at the bottom of the dish.
- Control Moisture Levels: If the casserole seems too dry, add extra chicken broth in small increments to maintain a creamy, moist consistency without making it soggy.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap chicken with turkey, rotisserie chicken, or plant-based alternatives like tofu or jackfruit for dietary preferences or to use leftover proteins.
- Enhance Texture Variation: Toast breadcrumbs before sprinkling to intensify their nutty flavor and create an extra crispy, golden-brown topping that adds delightful crunch to the creamy casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg