Mamaw Chicken and Rice Casserole
This Mamaw chicken and rice casserole is a creamy, comforting dish that brings together the flavors of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and rich soups, making it the best chicken casserole with rice. It's an easy chicken and rice casserole that's perfect for any weeknight meal and can be customized to fit a healthier diet.
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups instant white rice
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of chicken soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of celery soup
- 1 (10.5 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup
- Salt and ground black pepper (to taste)
- ½ cup butter, sliced into pats
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease the sides and bottom of a casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
- In the dish, mix the chicken, water, rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, and cream of mushroom soup until well combined. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Evenly distribute the pats of butter across the top of the chicken mixture. This will help create a rich, golden top layer as it bakes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked, the rice is tender, and the top is golden brown. For a slight crust, let it bake closer to the 75-minute mark.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. This rest time helps the layers set and enhances the overall flavor.
Notes
Mamaw's Chicken and Rice Casserole is fantastic as it is, but it lends itself to substitutions and variations. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity: Rotisserie Chicken, Broccoli, and Cheese.