This Chicken & Rice Casserole is a classic dinner. It is just straight-out comfort food. It is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. You can also spread kindness and take it to a sick friend or just give it as a way to make someone smile.
This casserole recipe is so simple to make and great for feeding a ton of people. Unlike most casseroles, this one is not made with soup. I have used ingredients like cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, and even cheddar cheese. However, when I make this recipe, I prefer it without soup because it tastes better and is healthier. This recipe is very filling and can keep you full until breakfast. A casserole like this will be a hit wherever you take it!
Another dinner idea is our Thai Chicken Rice Bowl. Quick, easy, and simply yummy. And if you are in the mood for soup, our Stuffed Pepper Soup is one to bookmark. Hearty, comforting, and made in your pressure cooker. If you are looking for a really unique spin on dinner, how about Chicken and Waffles? If you've never tried this combination before, then you are in for a real treat.
🧾 Ingredients
Get the full list of ingredients, with measurements, and step-by-step instructions at the bottom of the post in the printable recipe card.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Chicken breasts
- Red onion
- Brown rice
- Chicken broth
- Salt and Pepper
🍳 How to Make
You will find complete directions at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.
Hint: To make this a truly healthy chicken and rice casserole, you want to use a low-sodium chicken broth and brown rice. This makes a healthy dinner recipe that still tastes amazing.
🥄 Variations
Even though this recipe is so good and simple to make, you may need some substitutions if you missing an ingredient or just want to try something.
- Rotisserie Chicken: If you don't have the time or just don't feel like it, you can shred up some of your favorite pre-cooked chicken.
- Rice: You may be feeling a little lazy with the chicken, but minute rice won't work as well with this recipe. If you decide you want to use brown rice, you will need an additional ½ cup of liquid and a longer cooking time.
- Veggies: I love adding a bit more to my recipe by adding broccoli florets or other veggies not only because it tastes good, but because it adds a pop of color. You can use fresh or frozen!
- Herbs: Adding fresh herbs will make the casserole even tastier.
- Cheese: If you want a creamy recipe, I recommend adding some cheese like cheddar, Colby jack, or mozzarella or bumping up the heat with some pepper jack!
🍽️ What to Serve With
This is a great recipe that can be enjoyed by itself or with your choice of side dishes.
- Roasted Veggies: Green beans, peppers, potatoes, etc
- Garlic bread
- Side Salad
🍶 Storing
Refrigerator Storage: You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer Storage: You can make this recipe as a freezer meal. After it's baked and cooled, put it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to three months.
💭Top Tips
For maximum flavor, sauté the red onion and toast the brown rice in the skillet first. When finished browning the chicken, deglaze the pan with some of the chicken broth to scrape up any brown bits left on the bottom of the skillet. When finished, transfer the liquid from the skillet to the casserole dish with the rest of the chicken broth.
❔FAQs
Yes! One of the best things about this recipe is that it is super simple to make. If you decide to use uncooked chicken, you may worry about bacteria. Any bacteria will fully cook out and be killed at 160 degrees. Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check!
Another perk of this recipe! You don't need to cook your rice. The broth in the recipe allows the rice to cook while baking.
For this recipe, you will want to cover it for the first 40 minutes. Then, to get the golden brown casserole look, it will need to be uncovered for the last 15-20 minutes.
Need to change the number of servings? You can click on the number of servings and change the number. This will adjust the ingredient measurements to what you need.
If you love this recipe, come back and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chicken & Rice Casserole is a classic dinner. It is just straight-out comfort food. It is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner. You can also spread kindness and take it to a sick friend or just give it as a way to make someone smile.
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil divided
- 4 4- oz. chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- ½ medium red onion diced
- 1 cup brown rice long-grain, rinsed and drained
- 3 cup chicken broth preferably organic
- Sea salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
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Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
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Heat the remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add chicken breasts and season with salt and black pepper, if desired. Cook until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
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Add onion and rice to the prepared baking dish. Season with salt and black pepper, if desired, and stir to combine. Pour the chicken broth over the rice and arrange the seared breasts on top of the rice mixture.
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Tightly cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked through.
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