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This chicken and rice casserole is the queen of easy weeknight meals! It has pantry staples, rotisserie chicken, loads of cheese, and is ridiculously simple to make.

If you’re in search of more cozy casseroles, try my Cream of Mushroom Soup Chicken Bake next.

a serving spoon with chicken and rice casserole

Why you’ll love it

I know that after a busy day, all anyone really wants to do is pick up a rotisserie chicken and call it a night. But combine it with Minute Rice, cheddar cheese, frozen veggies, a couple of pantry ingredients, and it’s transformed into the best chicken casserole ever. To get these delicious results while saving time and effort is a huge win for parents out there especially.

This creamy chicken and rice casserole will become a family favorite, and it’s super convenient because it has protein, veggies, and a starch all in one effortless dump-and-bake meal! It’s also a fantastic budget-friendly option that feeds a crowd. The whole thing is basically a combo of all my favorite flavors from chicken pot pie but so much easier and incredibly comforting.

What you’ll need

  • Cream of chicken soup – condensed soup is a tried and true shortcut to infuse creaminess and rich flavor in casseroles. No shame in that!
  • Chicken broth – for moisture and even more savory flavor
  • Instant rice – it’s convenient and ensures the rice is cooked properly. I used white Minute Rice.
  • Chicken – I chose rotisserie for ease, but if you have some leftover cooked chicken, that works too
  • Frozen mixed vegetables – an easy way to add veggies. No need to thaw first! Mine had diced carrots, peas, corn, and green beans.
  • Garlic powder and onion powder – two essentials in my pantry for aromatic flavor
  • Italian seasoning – it’s my go-to dried herb blend that comes all in one jar and adds tons of flavor to many recipes of mine
  • Scallions – they’re a mild green onion that add a pop of freshness
  • Cheddar – grate a block of cheddar for best results. It’ll melt and taste better than the pre-shredded kind. I like to use this grater.
ingredients for chicken and rice casserole in prep bowls

Pro tips

  • I strongly recommend using instant rice. It’s parboiled, which means it’s about 90% of the way done cooking already. Using it in this casserole means you won’t end up with crunchy rice, and it’s always soft and fluffy.
  • Since ovens and casserole dishes can vary, cooking times are just a guideline. It’s unlikely, but if you find the rice isn’t fully cooked at the end of cooking time, simply pop it back in the oven for a little longer.

How to make this chicken and rice casserole

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

mixing sauce and assembling chicken and rice casserole

Preheat the oven to 375F. In a large prep bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until combined. Grease a 9×13 baking dish, and then add in the chicken, rice, veggies, seasonings, scallions, and 1 cup of the cheddar.

adding cheddar to a baking dish with chicken and rice casserole

Pour in the condensed soup mixture, and toss everything until coated. Smooth into a uniform layer. Cover tightly with foil or a lid, and bake for 45 minutes. Take it out of the oven, remove the foil, and top with the remaining cheese. Bake uncovered until hot and melty.

Can I make this casserole ahead?

  • Since it involves only 10 minutes of prep, we suggest making this casserole in real time, but you could get away with prepping it up to a day ahead. Assemble it up to step 6, cover tightly with foil, and then refrigerate overnight. Cook as directed, but it may need extra time if it’s cold from the fridge. Be mindful that the rice may also soften up in the fridge.

Substitutions and variations

  • This recipe has only been tested with instant rice. Subbing uncooked regular rice won’t work with the suggested cooking times and liquid quantity. You could try subbing pre-cooked rice (use 6 cups cooked rice) and decrease cooking time if you can’t get Minute Rice.
  • You could try swapping for another variety of condensed soup or mix and match, like using two cream of chicken and one cream of mushroom or celery.
  • Our kitchen has not tested this, but in theory you could halve the amount and make it in an 8×8 baking dish. The cooking time may need to be adjusted, so keep an eye on it.
a bowl with a portion of chicken and rice casserole

Leftovers and storage

  • This chicken and rice casserole will keep for a few days in the fridge in an airtight container, but keep in mind the rice may dry out a bit the longer it sits, so you may need to add a splash of chicken broth to any leftovers.
  • Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through. You can also pop it back in the oven at 350F, or heat it up on the stove over a low heat.
  • I am not a fan of freezing cooked rice or cheese as the texture can change, but if this is something you regularly do, you can definitely give it a try.

What to serve with this chicken and rice casserole

closeup of a serving spoon with chicken and rice casserole

If the post didn’t answer your questions, talk to me in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you if you made this simple chicken and rice casserole. You can also find me on Instagram.

a serving spoon with chicken and rice casserole
5 from 19 votes

Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole

This chicken and rice casserole is the queen of easy weeknight meals! It has pantry staples, rotisserie chicken, loads of cheese, and is ridiculously simple to make.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 3 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 2 cups uncooked Minute Rice see note
  • 2 cups cooked chicken (I used rotisserie) shredded/chopped
  • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup scallions chopped
  • 3 cups grated cheddar divided

Instructions 

  • Preheat your own to 375F and move the rack to the middle position.
  • Add the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth to a bowl and stir together until combined.
  • Grease a 9×13 casserole dish (I use Pam cooking spray).
  • To the casserole dish, add the rice, chicken, veggies, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, pepper, scallions, and one cup of the cheddar.
  • Pour the soup/broth mixture into the casserole dish, toss until everything is coated thoroughly, and smooth in an even layer.
  • Cover the casserole dish tightly with foil or the lid it came with (important so the rice cooks properly!). Bake for 45 minutes.
  • Take the casserole dish out of the oven, carefully remove the foil, and top with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for another 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted and the rice is soft and creamy.

Notes

  • I strongly recommend using instant rice as this has not been tested with any other variety. Other kinds will likely need longer to cook and more liquid, so tweak the recipe at your own discretion.

Nutrition

Calories: 449kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 24g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Cholesterol: 78mg, Sodium: 1221mg, Potassium: 301mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 3018IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 344mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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56 Comments

  1. Patti says:

    5 stars
    This recipe is easy to make and is so delicious!

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you so much, Patti!

  2. Kate says:

    Hi, I’m wondering if regular rice could be used instead? Instant rice isn’t a favorite of anyone in my family

    Thank you!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Kate! I use instant rice because the cook time and liquid measurements can vary greatly if you use regular rice. I do have a tip on using already cooked rice in the “substitutions & variations” section of the blog post, though.

  3. Paula says:

    Hi Natasha
    I’m wondering if this could be prepared in a crock pot and then at the end put the rest of the cheese in and cover for about 30 extra minutes. How long should I cook it for do you think.

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Paula! Honestly – I have no idea. I find rice casseroles can be tricky in general to get right with liquids/timing, and I haven’t ever tested one in the slow cooker before, so my guess is as good as yours – sorry! You’d have to do some experimenting.

  4. Mary says:

    I only have two cream of chicken soups not three. How should I adjust the recipe?

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Mary! I am not sure as I have only tested it as written. You could probably make up for that extra 10.5 oz of liquid by doing a mix of chicken broth and sour cream, but this is just a total guess. You could probably get away with using slightly less than the 10.5 oz as it is quite a “saucy” casserole, but as to how much less, you’d have to experiment a bit.

      1. Hope says:

        5 stars
        This is a popular meal on our dinner rotation ! It’s also my go to to bring for any event that needs a hot dish.

        1. Natasha says:

          Yay!! I love that! Thanks, Hope.

  5. Taryn Bursey says:

    Can you use normal long grain rice instead if so how long would you cook for

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi! See the “substitutions and variations” section. I haven’t tested anything besides instant rice so your guess is as good as mine – sorry.

  6. Stephany says:

    Can I use fresh broccoli instead of frozen veggies?

    1. Natasha says:

      Frozen veggies are partially cooked already (and generally cut pretty small), so I am wondering if you should perhaps par-boil the broccoli so it’s not super crunchy unless that’s your preference. You may need to do a little experimenting to get it just right.

  7. Joanne says:

    I have made this a couple of times now and it is one of my favorite. I have used both Rotisserie and canned chicken & both were good. Tonight I am making it with brown instant rice as out of white. Any added time needed for cooking?

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Joanne! I am glad it’s a favorite. That’s a good question – I am not sure actually. There’s a chance it’ll need more liquid and/or time, but I would see how the box instructions compare to the white rice and go from there with any adjustments.

  8. Mikayla D says:

    5 stars
    Excellent recipe. Even more tasty as leftovers,

    1. Natasha says:

      Thank you!! 😀 Glad you liked it!

      1. Lisa Jackson says:

        Can i replace the scallions with onions?

        1. Natasha says:

          Hi! I’d probably sauté them first if you go that route. I use the green parts of the scallions and they tend to be more mild than regular onions, and they also wilt a bit in the oven. I think regular diced onions may still end up being crunchy and possibly a bit overpowering even after cooking in the oven.

  9. Sandy Prokulevich says:

    Please tell me how to save the recipes!!!!!

    1. Natasha says:

      Hi Sandy. There’s a button in the recipe card that says “SAVE RECIPE” (above ingredients list) that allows you to save the recipes if you sign up for a Grow account. It’ll walk you through the process.

  10. Jessica says:

    This was incredible! My partner and I went back for seconds and had enough for dinner the next night. Reheated well in the oven!

    1. Natasha says:

      Wonderful!! 😀