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Chicken

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Healthy Chicken And Rice Casserole Recipe

Last Updated: January 5, 2021
This content is created following our Recipe Development Procedure, and reviewed by our RDNs. However, the content does not constitute a medical or nutritional consultation. Read our Medical Disclosure.
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD on November 4, 2020 — Recipe developed by Luna Regina

This healthy chicken and rice casserole recipe is specially created for those who are often busy running errands. Hopefully, it will make life easier and hit your comfort button.

Contents

  • 1 Is Chicken And Rice Casserole Healthy?
  • 2 How Many Calories?
  • 3 How To Make Healthy Chicken And Rice Casserole
    • 3.1 1. In The Oven
    • 3.2 2. Chicken and Rice Casserole in The Crockpot
    • 3.3 3. In The Instant Pot
  • 4 What Goes With Chicken And Rice Casserole
    • 4.1 1. Cream Of Mushroom Soup
    • 4.2 2. French Onion Soup
    • 4.3 3. Sour Cream
    • 4.4 4. Broccoli
    • 4.5 5. Cheese
  • 5 How Long Should You Bake The Casserole?
  • 6 Can I Substitute Brown Rice For White Rice In The Casserole?
  • 7 Can You Freeze Chicken and Rice Casserole?
  • 8 What To Serve with This Dish?
    • 8.1 1. Greek Salad
    • 8.2 2. Milk and Orange Juice
  • 9 Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
    • 9.1 Ingredients  1x2x3x
    • 9.2 Instructions 
    • 9.3 Video
    • 9.4 Nutrition
Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

During our attempts to perfect this dish, we really thought about how to make it more manageable. We want anyone making this to be able to just sit back and not have to stress about overcooking.

Is Chicken And Rice Casserole Healthy?

Yes, it is.

Chicken and rice casserole doesn’t fall in the refined, fancy meal category. However, it is wholesome and delicious just like its fellow, chicken and rice soup.

This dish is a convenient one-pan meal, where the ingredients are arranged and cooked together in layers. It contains all natural and nutritious ingredients.

In this healthy chicken and rice casserole recipe there’s tender and juicy chicken, chewy rice, and savory mushroom soup. Additional flavors from herbs and spices wrap up a wholesome and nourishing meal.

How Many Calories?

In this healthy chicken and rice casserole recipe, one serving delivers 431 calories. This includes one chicken thigh and white rice cooked together with other finely chopped vegetables.

How Many Calories In this recipe

How To Make Healthy Chicken And Rice Casserole

The best thing about this dish is the pleasant nostalgia it brings, reminding you of the good old days. As an added bonus, the cooking process is beyond simple and also saves you cleaning time afterward.

Another great one-pan dish that saves you time and clean-up is this hashbrown casserole. Take a look for some more meal inspiration.

1. In The Oven

Step 1: Mix the spices

In a small bowl, combine salt, ground black pepper, thyme, and minced garlic together. Divide this spice mixture in half and set aside. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Step 2: Prepare a casserole dish

Brush the glassware baking dish with olive oil on the inside.

Step 3: Add the filling to the casserole (1)

Add chopped carrot, onion, and rice to the casserole dish, together with half of the spice mixture.

Step 4: Add the filling to the casserole (2)

Continue to add mushroom soup and chicken broth to the casserole dish. Mix to combine.

Step 5: Add the filling to the casserole (3)

Place the chicken thighs on top, brush with melted unsalted butter, then sprinkle the remaining spice mixture on them.

Step 6: Bake (1)

Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, place in the preheated oven, select upper and lower heat mode, and bake for 1 hour.

Step 7: Bake (2)

After 1 hour, remove the foil, select upper heat mode (to make charred marks on the chicken thighs), and bake for 10 more minutes.

Step 8: Serve

Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle parsley on top. Serve while it’s still hot.

How to make healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole in the oven

2. Chicken and Rice Casserole in The Crockpot

To make chicken and rice casserole in the crockpot, you start by adding uncooked rice, veggies, and dry ingredients. Stir to combine and place the chicken thighs on top.

Sprinkle with garlic, pepper, and other spices, pour in the chicken broth and the cream of mushroom soup, and cover. Cook on high heat for 1-2 hours.

Remove the chicken thighs and transfer them to a clean plate, cover, and keep warm. Stir the rice a few times, then cover and continue to cook on high heat for another hour.

Check the rice to see if it’s cooked to tender and return the chicken thighs back to the crockpot. You can tear the chicken into thin strips, finely dice it, or leave it in whole pieces if desired.

Next, if you’ve thought about adding cheese to your healthy chicken and rice casserole recipe, this is the time for it. Sprinkle the cheese over the top, re-cover the crockpot and cook for a few minutes.

Finally, sprinkle parsley on top and serve warm.

Now, here’s a few things to keep in mind when trying a chicken and rice casserole recipe with a crockpot. First, you should quickly sear the chicken fillets before adding them to the crockpot to lock in more flavor.

Always cook on high heat. The rice will easily become mushy as it absorbs liquid from other ingredients that release moisture.

In the same vein, it is important to note that different crockpots may heat at different rates. Your crockpot might need more or less liquid to cook rice than the amount required in a sample recipe.

3. In The Instant Pot

First, sautée vegetables in the instant pot with butter. Add chicken broth and uncooked rice into the Instant Pot together with the veggies.

If there’s cheese in the recipe, it should go in right after the rice.

Next, top the mixture with chicken fillets, following with the cream of mushroom soup. Turn the Instant Pot onto high pressure for 10 minutes.

After it’s done cooking, let the Instant Pot depressurize for another 10 minutes then do a quick release. Transfer the chicken onto a clean plate, use a spatula to stir the rice beneath.

Use a fork to shred the cooked chicken into strips, stir them back together with the rice. Divide into smaller servings and serve warm.

Unlike the other two methods, the size of the chicken fillets decides its doneness.

When making this dish with an Instant Pot, it is crucial to make sure that the fillet isn’t too big. If you happen to buy a thick chicken cutlet (either thigh or breast), shred or cut it in half first.

What Goes With Chicken And Rice Casserole

This chicken and rice casserole recipe calls for main ingredients: chicken thighs, rice, chicken broth, and cream of mushroom soup.

Ingredient

1. Cream Of Mushroom Soup

In this chicken and rice casserole recipe, we put in half a cup of cream of mushroom soup. The cream of mushroom soup is whisked together with the uncooked rice and a combination of vegetables.

Rice will absorb liquid and flavor from both the chicken broth and mushroom soup as they cook together. For busy people, the most convenient option is to use canned options.

2. French Onion Soup

Aside from cream of mushroom soup, French onion soup is also a marvelous choice.

Of course, you can opt for the French onion soup mix for the most convenience. All you need to do is whisk the soup mix together with the rice and broth to enhance the flavor.

3. Sour Cream

If none of the above appeals to you, consider creating a simple soup mixture from sour cream. You can make your own creamy sauce by combining sour cream with your favorite cheese.

Here’s another side note. If you’re using a Crock-Pot or Instant Pot, be careful with dairy products that will be going into this dish.

It’s best to only stir dairy in at the end. Doing this will help prevent the dairy from burning during the long cooking time.

4. Broccoli

If you’re a fan of broccoli, there’s a simple way to incorporate it into this dish. Simply chop the broccoli into small pieces and sprinkle them on top of the casserole.

If your chicken and rice casserole recipe also calls for cheese, broccoli should be the second to last ingredient. After broccoli goes in, finish it off with the cheese.

Unlike carrots and onion, broccoli cooks very quickly and can easily become mushy. Therefore, if you’re using a pressure cooker, you shouldn’t sautée it before cooking.

It’s best to microwave the broccoli separately for a few minutes first. Set it aside, then finish cooking the rice and chicken.

After that, transfer the broccoli to the cooker and let it cook with the residual heat so it won’t burn.

5. Cheese

Regardless of the cooking method you choose, cheese should always be added last in the casserole.

What Goes With Chicken And Rice Casserole

In this chicken and rice casserole recipe, it is recommended you sprinkle the cheese on top. Then serve it right away without returning the dish to heat again.

How Long Should You Bake The Casserole?

This healthy chicken and rice casserole recipe took us roughly one and a half hours to make.

The cooking time can vary in other recipes with different variations of ingredients. However, you can’t seem to spend less than 1 hour on this dish.

Don’t get frustrated with the long cooking time; we guarantee it will be worth the wait. Both the chicken meat and the rice need adequate time to absorb all the liquid and be cooked through.

Additionally, it’s a must to pay attention to the heating mode of the oven. If your oven has the option to switch to different heating modes, be sure to follow this recipe closely.

The baking dish should receive heat from both the top and bottom. Otherwise, neither the rice nor the chicken can be fully done.

To find more tips on preparing chicken properly, check out our baked chicken breast recipe, which digs a bit more into detail.

How Long Should You Bake The Casserole?

Can I Substitute Brown Rice For White Rice In The Casserole?

Yes, you can.

Brown rice is a great substitute for white rice as it’s higher in fiber and protein. Besides, you’ll more likely feel full longer when consuming brown rice.

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that brown rice normally needs a longer cooking time than white rice. Consequently, the overall cooking time must increase to ensure the brown rice is cooked to doneness.

Can You Freeze Chicken and Rice Casserole?

Yes, you can.

If you want, you can make 2-3 servings at a time and save them for later use. In fact, this chicken and rice casserole recipe is designed for a table of four.

When storing, it’s important to let the casserole cool down to room temperature first. After that, cover it with aluminum foil, then put it in the fridge or freezer.

Chicken and rice casserole can last within 2 days in the fridge and freeze well for up to 3 months. It can be reheated in minutes once defrosted.

What To Serve with This Dish?

Chicken and rice casserole goes great with a variety of things.

Today, we decided to pair it with Greek salad and milk and orange juice. Adding more fresh greens, and a nice touch of sweet-sour flavor to the meal.

What To Serve with This Dish?

1. Greek Salad

Greek salad is a refreshing salad dish that calls for romaine lettuce, cucumber, and bell pepper. It’s topped with tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese, and then drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette dressing.

2. Milk and Orange Juice

Milk and orange juice is a nourishing beverage that leaves a sweet-sour taste and silky mouthfeel. It plays a perfect role as a thirst-quenching drink in this chicken recipe while adding a little citrusy freshness.

How to make Chicken and Rice Casserole in the oven
5 from 1 vote

Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

Avatar for Luna ReginaLuna Regina
Healthy chicken and rice casserole is rich, savory, and easily adaptable. It’s chicken baked in a creamy sauce with rice, finely chopped veggies, and extra seasoning, delicious! To make it simpler, prepare a large batch and store it in your freezer to have it ready anytime you need it.
Print Pin Review
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 10 mins
Total Time 1 hr 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 431 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 skinless chicken thighs about 21 oz
  • 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 oz onion chopped
  • 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
  • 2 1/4 cups unsalted chicken broth
  • 4 oz carrot chopped into tiny bits
  • 1/3 cup cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp parsley chopped

This post may contain links to Amazon or other partners; Purchases made via these links may benefit us at no additional cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclosure.

Instructions
 

Prep

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • In a small bowl, combine salt, ground black pepper, thyme, and minced garlic together. Divide this spice mixture in half and set aside.
  • Prepare a casserole dish (we use a glass bakeware one), brush it with olive oil on the inside.
  • Add chopped carrot, onion, and rice to the casserole dish, together with half of the spice mixture.
  • Continue to add mushroom soup and chicken broth to the casserole dish. Mix to combine.
  • Place the chicken thighs on top, brush with melted unsalted butter, then sprinkle the remaining spice mixture on them.

Cook

  • Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, place in the preheated oven, and bake for 1 hour. Remember to select upper and lower heat mode, or else the rice might not be fully cooked.
  • After 1 hour, remove the foil and bake for 10 more minutes, select upper heat mode to give some nice charred marks on the chicken thighs.
  • Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle parsley on top. Serve while it’s still hot.

Video

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 431 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 4g
Cholesterol 148mg49%
Sodium 548mg24%
Potassium 678mg19%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 4846IU97%
Vitamin C 6mg7%
Calcium 46mg5%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Homemade healthy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Filed Under: American, Casseroles, Chicken, Gluten-free, Main Course

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Luna Regina
About the author

Luna Regina

I'm Luna Regina. Welcome to Healthy Kitchen 101 where true wellness starts with eating right. I hope you will enjoy the healthy recipes, cooking tips, and reviews on our website. Have a great time!

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Comments

  1. Avatar for ValentinaValentina

    December 3, 2018 at 11:02 pm

    I think chicken and rice dishes are some of the most comforting out there. This one sounds super tasty too!

    Reply
    • Avatar for LunaLuna

      December 4, 2018 at 12:28 pm

      Agree on the comforting! I can even devour it all at once. Can’t wait to hear your own insight once you give it a try 😀

      Reply
  2. Avatar for aretha goodakeraretha goodaker

    March 12, 2020 at 7:58 pm

    Can you use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs or will it be too dry

    Reply

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Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutritionally reviewed by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD on November 4, 2020 — Recipe developed by Luna Regina
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