I’ve been planning on reducing carbs to prepare for the holidays. (That way, I can indulge in all those insanely delicious Christmas and New Year’s goodies.) Yet my body’s persistence in craving comfort food cravings won’t stop. But, hey, who says it’s the carbs that’s the problem? So I happily gave in to the call of this mouthwatering chicken and rice casserole. Ooh! And the heart-warming satisfaction of biting into tender, juicy chicken and creamy, savory rice was so worth it. Besides, dieting is terribly overrated. Ha! 🤣
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole
Prep the Chicken
Seasonings – Mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper thoroughly in a small bowl. Mix ingredients to fully combine.Prep Chicken – Sprinkle paprika seasoning mixture over chicken thighs, ensuring it covers all sides of the chicken.Sear – Place chicken in the heated skillet skin side down and sear for 3-4 minutes or forms a golden brown crust. Flip the chicken and continue searing for an additional 3 minutes. Then take the chicken out of the skillet, place it on a plate, and set it aside. You’ll finish cooking the chicken in the oven.
Assemble the Casserole
Saute the Aromatics – Add onion, celery, minced garlic, and thyme with medium-high heat. Cook, frequently stirring, for 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent. Turn off the heat and set the onion-celery mixture aside.Prep Baking Dish – Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with oil or cooking spray.Assemble – Add rice, cream of mushroom soup, Italian seasoning, melted butter, broth, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, onion-celery mixture, and salt and pepper to the baking dish and mix to combine thoroughly.Top with Chicken – Next, place chicken thighs skin side up on the rice mixture.Bake – Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.Broil – Once the rice is cooked, remove the aluminum foil, switch the oven to broil, and broil the casserole for about 2-3 minutes to get the chicken skin golden and crispy.Serve – Take chicken and rice casserole out of the oven, garnish with fresh parsley, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
We all want a good, fresh-from-the-oven casserole, so I suggest skipping the baking part when making it ahead. Cook the chicken and assemble the casserole as instructed. Then cover the dish tightly with a cling wrap or foil, store it in the fridge for up to two days or three months in the freezer, and bake as instructed when ready to serve.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Meanwhile, you can keep the leftovers in an airtight container or freezer-safe resealable bag. And they will last in the refrigerator for up to four days or two months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Cover the casserole with foil and bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 350°F/177℃ to reheat. If reheating a small portion, it’s best to use a microwave because it’s faster.
What to Serve with Your Chicken and Rice Casserole
This cheesy chicken casserole is already a meal on its own. But serving it with veggie side dishes is always welcome, giving you a healthy balanced meal.
Bacon Broccoli SaladKale SaladBacon Wrapped Green BeansParmesan Crusted AsparagusSauteed Zucchini
More Tempting Cheesy Casserole Recipes to Try
Cabbage Roll CasseroleSausage CasseroleBiscuits and Gravy CasseroleGround Beef CasseroleFiesta Chicken Casserole
Conclusion
Have you created this drool-worthy chicken and rice casserole for your family? Did you customize it with delicious add-ins? Please let me know in the comments! 😘
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”YuxERKTa” upload-date=”2022-08-29T13:16:34.000Z” name=”CHICKEN AND RICE CASSEROLE.mp4″ description=”Chicken and Rice Casserole is beautifully seared, spice-infused chicken baked on a bed of fantabulous rice for a meal perfect for the entire family. You’ll love spooning the warm creamy goodness and flavor of the rice and perfectly browned chicken. ” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”]
