There are times when it’s cold outside and a simple casserole works for dinner. My husband loves rice …and when there’s chicken to be cooked and all the ingredients in the pantry?

This chicken and rice casserole ticks all the boxes.

Comfort food.

Rice.

Chicken.

Lots of flavor from the pesto and cooking sherry.

Checks all the boxes.

And what makes this one even better? It’s an easy one to make and serve. It’s on the table in an hour.

Seriously.

Where to begin with this recipe?

If you have rotisserie chicken on hand, you have already skipped a step. If not, just cook enough chicken for 2 cups and either dice or shred, your preference. I had chicken breasts that I added to the microwave with chicken broth to cook.

One cup of cooked rice is easy with my pampered chef rice cooker. 1 C of rice with 2 C of water in the cooker for 12 minutes and that second step just got ticked off.

A simple dice of onion and celery sauteed until tender in butter is the next step.

Can I give you a tip?

This lodge piece is my favorite to begin this recipe in…and then add it to the oven…and serve directly from when it’s ready.

I love the simplicity.

Here’s the recipe!

serving of chicken and rice casserole on a plate

Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

A quick, easy and delicious casserole with rice and chicken.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 35

Total Time 1

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Equipment

1 Stove
1 cast iron baking dish or baking dish AND skillet
1 oven
1 set Measuring cups/spoons
1 rice cooker, optional
1 microwave, optional

Ingredients

1 C jasmine rice, cooked or your favorite cooked rice
3 C diced or shredded, cooked chicken
1 stalk celery, diced
1 C onion, diced
2 T butter
1/2 C sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/3 C cooking sherry, optional
1 T basil pesto OR fresh basil
1/2 C Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions

Cook rice and set aside.
Dice or shred cooked or rotisserie chicken.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Measure all ingredients.
Add butter to a skillet or cast iron baking dish and saute diced onion and celery until softened.
Turn off burner and add in sour cream, pesto, and cooking sherry, if using.
Mix in rice and cooked chicken.
If not baking in cooking dish, add mixture to buttered baking dish.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
Bake for 35 minutes in preheated 350° oven or until casserole is lightly browned and bubbly.
Serve immediately.

Notes

A delicious and easy chicken and rice casserole that is perfect for cold evening dinners. Add a salad and bread to complete the comfort food dinner.

Feel free to add chopped broccoli or more seasonings to change up the ingredients. May I suggest that you add the cooking sherry which adds depth to the dish.

This recipe is perfect for kids who are picky eaters. They will love this one!

Enjoy!

Keyword delicious chicken and rice casserole, easy casserole, easy chicken and rice casserole

This recipe is perfect for picky eater kids. Just add a salad, side or bread to finish out your menu.

I’ll add either green beans or lima beans from the pantry for my husband. You can select your favorite sides to accompany this recipe for your family.

Here are a few of my favorite additions:

braided bread

honey pears

Just a tip:

If you want to freeze these? Simply spoon the mixture before baking into 10 oz. ramekins or casserole dishes and wrap, label and freeze up to 3 months. Just remember to thaw overnight in the refrigerator the day before you make them for the best results.

Do you love serving individual servings to make sure that you have enough for guest? Just bake those 10 oz. casserole dishes/ramekins for about 25-30 minutes until heated throughout.

Hope you love this one, friends!

My rice loving husband is over the moon,

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Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole