Description
Comfort meets culinary magic in this cheesy chicken and rice casserole, blending creamy textures with hearty flavors. Perfectly balanced ingredients create a satisfying meal that connects home cooks with classic Southern-style comfort food you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Liquid and Creamy Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
Seasonings and Optional Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, thoroughly combine the shredded chicken, cooked rice, sharp cheddar cheese, creamy chicken condensation, whole milk, aromatic garlic powder, pungent onion powder, seasoning salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Gently fold the frozen green peas into the mixture, ensuring they are well integrated throughout the casserole base.
- Carefully transfer the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer to promote consistent heating.
- For an enhanced textural experience, generously scatter a layer of crisp breadcrumbs across the casserole’s surface, creating a golden, crunchy topping.
- Position the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, watching for a bubbling perimeter and a rich golden-brown crust that signals perfect doneness.
- Once removed from the oven, allow the casserole to rest and slightly cool for 3-5 minutes, which helps the ingredients set and makes serving easier.
- Serve the casserole while still warm, offering a comforting and satisfying meal that blends creamy, cheesy, and savory flavors.
Notes
- Swap chicken for tofu or chickpeas to create a vegetarian version that maintains protein content and flavor profile.
- Use brown rice instead of white for added fiber and nutritional boost, which slightly increases cooking time.
- Add extra vegetables like diced carrots or spinach to enhance nutritional value and create more complex flavor layers.
- Consider gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers for topping if catering to gluten-sensitive individuals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 395 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg