Description
Comforting no-peek chicken casserole brings Southern charm to dinner tables with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Simple ingredients meld together in one-pan magic, promising a hearty meal that delights families with its creamy, savory goodness you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 lb chicken thighs
Starches and Base:
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and thoroughly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Spread uncooked rice evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating a uniform base layer.
- Arrange chicken breasts and thighs directly on top of the rice, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle dry onion soup mix uniformly over the chicken, distributing seasoning evenly.
- Whisk cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, water, and milk together in a separate bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the creamy soup mixture carefully over the chicken and rice, making sure to cover all ingredients without disturbing the layer arrangement.
- Dot the surface with butter pieces and season with black pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
- Tightly cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, ensuring no steam can escape during cooking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 75-90 minutes, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and rice is tender.
- Remove foil during the last 15 minutes of cooking to allow slight browning on top.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and sauce to thicken.
Notes
- Swap white rice for brown rice or quinoa to boost nutritional value and add a hearty, nutty flavor profile.
- Customize seasonings by replacing onion soup mix with homemade herb blends for a personalized taste experience.
- Consider using low-sodium soups and reduced-fat dairy options to create a lighter, healthier version of this classic comfort dish.
- For gluten-free adaptation, use gluten-free cream soups and verify all ingredient labels to ensure complete dietary compatibility.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg