Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Easy chicken and rice casserole is the perfect easy dinner to make weeknight meal! This simple casserole is hearty, cheesy and flavorful, the whole family will love it! Made in just one pan clean up is a breeze!
I love a simple recipe that helps get dinner on the table with a quickness and this easy and delicious cheesy chicken rice casserole fits the bill perfectly! This tasty recipe is super easy to make because it uses store bought rice mix, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken tenderloins and shredded cheese so it can be thrown together in minutes! The result is a hearty casserole full of cheesy goodness that everyone loves.
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FAQ & Recipe Tips for this Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Can I make this ahead of time?
Absolutely! This is a great recipe for making ahead and refrigerating or freezing. To make cheesy chicken and rice casserole ahead of time simply follow the instructions to assemble the casserole, then cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days before baking. For longer storage, freeze the assembled casserole by tightly covering it before baking. It can be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed. This is a great recipe for a meal train or to take to someone, make it in a disposable baking pan.
What to serve with this casserole-
This is really an all in one meal with protein, carbs and veggies which is one of the reasons I love it. If you’re looking for ideas for serving something else we like to pair it with a nice crisp side salad and our favorite rolls or garlic knots.
Ingredients for This Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Chicken Broth- Using chicken broth instead of water to make rice helps give it a ton of flavor. You can also use chicken bone broth or chicken bullion.
Cream of Chicken Soup– We like cream of chicken soup for this recipe but it is also delicious made with cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery, or cream of broccoli soup if you prefer. If you have a favorite homemade cream of chicken soup recipe you can use it.
Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice and Pasta Blend– This is a blend of white rice, tender pasta and a tasty cheesy broccoli sauce. You can use another flavor if desired or another brand as long as it is the same size package.
Broccoli- For this recipe I like to chop my broccoli into small florets so that they are bite size. You can use frozen broccoli that has been thawed or fresh broccoli that has been chopped and steamed.
Chicken Tenderloins– I like chicken breast tenderloins because they are a great texture and they cook up quickly. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts that have been butterflied or pounded nice and thin. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer them. If you prefer to chop your chicken into bite sized chunks you can. If you use different cuts of chicken your cooking time may vary.
Cajun Seasoning- Cajun seasoning adds a nice spice to this recipe but if you want to skip the spice you can use your favorite seasoning blend.
Smoked Paprika– I love the smoky almost bacon-y flavor that smoked paprika adds to a dish. If you prefer regular paprika you can use it instead.
Salt and Pepper– Because chicken broth and the Knorr mix are already well seasoned you don’t need a ton of salt and pepper but you want to add some to your chicken so it is flavored well.
Cheddar Cheese– You can use mild or sharp cheddar depending on your tastes. For a short cut you can buy pre shredded cheese but freshly shredded cheddar cheese will melt better.
Fresh Parsley- Chopped fresh parsley adds a hint of freshness to this rich comfort food.
Ingredients to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole
Preheat the oven to 375.
In a 9×13 baking dish or casserole dish whisk together the chicken broth and cream of chicken soup until well combined.
Add in the uncooked rice mix and stir again making sure everything is evenly mixed.
Add the chopped broccoli into the rice mixture and stir until it is evenly distributed.
In a small bowl combine the salt and pepper, Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and then sprinkle both sides with the seasoning mixture.
Place the seasoned chicken on top of the rice and broccoli.
Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the entire casserole. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes or until the cheese is melted, the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165.
Serve warm topped with fresh parsley if desired.
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 14 oz Chicken Broth
- 10 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
- 2 5 oz Bags of Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice and Pasta Blend
- 1 lb Frozen and Chopped Broccoli thawed
- 1 1/2 lb Chicken Tenderloins
- 1 tsp Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Salt and Pepper
- 3 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- In a 9×13 baking dish or casserole dish whisk together the chicken broth and cream of chicken soup until well combined.14 oz Chicken Broth, 10 oz Cream of Chicken Soup
- Add in the uncooked rice mix and stir again making sure everything is evenly mixed.2 5 oz Bags of Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice and Pasta Blend
- Add the chopped broccoli into the rice mixture and stir until it is evenly distributed.1 lb Frozen and Chopped Broccoli
- In a small bowl combine the salt and pepper, Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika.1 tsp Cajun Seasoning, 1 tsp Smoked Paprika, 1 tsp Salt and Pepper
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and then sprinkle both sides with the seasoning mixture.1 1/2 lb Chicken Tenderloins
- Place the seasoned chicken on top of the rice and broccoli.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the entire casserole. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes or until the cheese is melted, the rice is tender and the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165.3 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Serve warm topped with fresh parsley if desired.Chopped parsley
