Rooster and Rice Casserole

I’m alllll about comforting casseroles in winter, and this Rooster and Rice Casserole is such a basic! It’s heat, filling, and oh-so tacky. For those who like broccoli cheddar casserole, you’re going to like this recipe. I’ve taken the basic broccoli cheddar facet dish and added a couple of extra greens and chunks of juicy hen breast to make it a full meal. However as a result of it’s made with largely pantry and freezer staples, it’s nonetheless a stable budget-friendly choice for tight grocery weeks. This tacky hen and rice casserole is all of the creamy, comforting goodness you’ll have to survive the winter. #thestruggleisreal

Overhead view of chicken and rice casserole with a spoon.

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“This was completely scrumptious! We used recent broccoli as an alternative of frozen(simply what I had readily available) and did no salt so our one 12 months previous may eat it as properly. He LOVED it! Positively a plus when the choosy eater needs seconds! 🙂 Will certainly be conserving this for our meal rotations!”

Naomi

The Coziest Tacky Rooster and Rice Bake

This casserole has an analogous taste to the basic many people grew up with, however there’s no canned soup in sight. As a substitute, I make a fast selfmade creamy sauce with butter, flour, broth, and milk, then fold in hen, rice, veggies, and cheese for a genuinely hearty, from-scratch dinner. I’ve additionally bumped up the seasonings since I first shared this recipe (which was method again in 2017!), with additional smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for a extra savory taste during. Your entire household goes to LOVE this one.

P.S. I’ve positively eaten the leftovers for breakfast greater than as soon as, and I’m not even sorry about it. I merely can’t resist tacky rice! 🤤

Attempt a special long-grain rice. I take advantage of long-grain white rice, however you should use brown rice or any long-grain rice you want. Simply cook dinner it in accordance with the package deal instructions first. Prepare dinner instances and water ratios differ lots relying on the rice used.
Use day-old rice when you’ve acquired it. This recipe initially listed 4 cups of cooked rice as an ingredient, however I’ve since up to date the directions to have you ever cook dinner the rice recent, as not everybody has leftover rice readily available. That mentioned, simply as with fried rice, day-old or chilled rice works even higher right here as a result of it’s a bit firmer. So, this tacky hen and rice casserole is superb for utilizing up leftover rice, or when you wish to cook dinner large batches of rice and freeze it. You want 4 cups of cooked rice whole.
Begin thawing the broccoli first, so it chops simpler. I take advantage of frozen broccoli florets to chop down on the prep work for this dish. I like to drag about ½ lb. frozen florets from the freezer and allow them to soften simply sufficient to chop, then chop into smaller bite-sized items. If you wish to use recent, ensure that to steam or boil them till al dente earlier than including to the casserole.
Let the sauce simmer till thickened. The roux (butter and flour combine) wants a bit warmth to thicken correctly. Gently simmer till the sauce coats the again of a spoon.
Leftover hen is honest recreation. Any cooked hen it is advisable burn up works nice right here, like a pre-cooked hen breast, rotisserie hen, or shredded hen. Skip the browning step and add the cooked hen (diced or shredded) if you mix the filling in step 7.
Use much less cheese to avoid wasting cash. If you would like tacky however simply not super-duper tacky, merely skip the layer of cheese on high and bake as-is (cowl with foil), or high it with buttered bread crumbs for a crunchy topping.
Prep it forward of time. You may assemble this hen and rice casserole as much as at some point forward, then cowl and refrigerate till you’re able to bake. Because it’s going into the oven chilly, plan so as to add a couple of additional minutes to the bake time so it heats during.

Price $7.60 recipe / $1.27 serving

This Rooster and Rice Casserole is a consolation meals basic, comprised of scratch with tons of juicy hen, cheese, greens, and rice!

▢ Nonstick cooking spray ($0.01)
▢ 1½ cups lengthy grain white rice (raw (315g) $0.61)
▢ 3 cups water ($0.00)
▢ 1 hen breast (boneless & skinless, lower in ½ -in cubes (about 2/3 lb., 11 oz., 311g) $1.84*)
▢ 1½ tsp salt (divided, $0.06)
▢ 1 tsp black pepper (freshly cracked & divided, $0.16)
▢ 1 Tbsp olive oil ($0.16)
▢ 1 yellow onion (small cube (270g, 2 cups) $0.64)
▢ 3 carrots (peeled, small cube (230g, 2 cups) $0.67)
▢ 3 Tbsp butter ($0.34)
▢ 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour (30g, $0.03)
▢ 1 cup hen broth (8oz, $0.13**)
▢ 1 cup entire milk (8oz, $0.23)
▢ ½ tsp smoked paprika ($0.04)
▢ ½ tsp garlic powder ($0.02)
▢ ½ tsp onion powder ($0.02)
▢ ½ lb. frozen broccoli florets (thawed, lower into bite-sized items (226g, 2 cups) $0.77***)
▢ 8 oz. medium cheddar cheese (shredded & divided, $1.87)

Collect and put together all substances. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8×10 casserole dish with nonstick spray and put aside.
Prepare dinner the rice in accordance with the package deal. This could yield 4 cups of cooked rice.
Whereas the rice cooks, lower the hen into ½-inch cubes and season with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp pepper. Warmth a big skillet over medium-high warmth, add the olive oil, and sear the hen for about 2 minutes per facet till calmly browned. Switch to a big bowl.
Flip the warmth to medium and add the onion and carrots to the skillet and sauté till the onions are softened, for about 5 minutes. Switch the onions and carrots to the bowl with the hen.
In the identical skillet, add the butter and flour. Prepare dinner over medium warmth, whisking continually, till the combination turns into foamy, then proceed cooking for about yet another minute.
Slowly whisk within the hen broth and produce the combination to a simmer till thickened. Whisk within the milk and simmer once more till the sauce coats a spoon. Flip off the warmth and season with the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and the remaining salt and pepper.
Add the chopped broccoli florets, cooked rice, and ½ of the shredded cheddar (about 1 cup) to the bowl with the hen, onions, and carrots.
Pour the sauce over the rice combination within the bowl and stir till every little thing is mixed and coated in sauce. Switch the combination to the casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the casserole.
Bake the casserole, uncovered, for about 35 minutes or till it turns into golden brown across the edges. Serve scorching.

See how we calculate recipe prices right here.

*I take advantage of boneless, skinless hen breast on this casserole to maintain it basic, however you should use diced hen thighs if that’s a greater match on your funds.

**I take advantage of Higher Than Bouillon to make my broth. For those who use a low sodium broth, it’s possible you’ll have to add additional salt to the sauce to get the perfect taste.

***Frozen or recent broccoli will work. Steam or boil recent broccoli till al dente earlier than utilizing.

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 513kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 24gFats: 24gSodium: 1121mgFiber: 3g

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How one can Make Rooster and Rice Casserole Step-by-Step Pictures

The ingredients to make chicken and rice casserole

Collect and prep all of your substances. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray an 8×10 casserole dish with nonstick spray. Set the dish apart for now.

Prepare dinner the rice: Prepare dinner 1½ cups lengthy grain rice in 3 cups water in accordance with the package deal instructions. For white long-grain rice, this usually takes about quarter-hour, however totally different varieties can differ, so you’ll want to observe the package deal instructions. You may as well use my information on learn how to cook dinner white rice. 1½ cups lengthy grain rice ought to yield 4 cups of cooked rice.

A knife slicing chicken breast into strips

Brown the hen: Whereas the rice cooks, slice 1 boneless, skinless hen breast into 1/2-inch cubes. Then season the hen with ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper.

Diced chicken cooking in a skillet with tongs flipping a piece over

Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a big skillet over medium-high warmth. As soon as heated, add the hen items and sear for about 2 minutes on both sides, till browned. Switch the hen to a big bowl.

Sauté the veggies: Now flip the warmth to medium and add 1 diced yellow onion and three peeled and diced carrots. Sauté for about 5 minutes, till the onions soften. Add the onions and carrots to the bowl with the browned hen.

Butter and flour in a sauce pan to make a roux

Make the sauce: In the identical skillet, add 3 Tbsp butter and three Tbsp flour to make your roux (which thickens the sauce). Prepare dinner over medium warmth, whisking continually, till the combination turns into foamy, then proceed cooking for about yet another minute. This cooks the uncooked flour style out of the roux.

Broth being added to a creamy sauce for chicken and rice casserole in a sauce pan

Slowly whisk in 1 cup hen broth till absolutely mixed. Convey the combination to a simmer till thickened.

Milk being whisked into a roux in a sauce pan

Then whisk in 1 cup entire milk and let it come as much as a simmer once more (don’t boil), at which level it would thicken to a pleasant sauce. The sauce ought to coat a spoon as soon as thickened sufficient.

Seasonings added to the creamy sauce for chicken and rice casserole

Season the sauce: Flip off the warmth and add ½ tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, and the remaining 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper to the sauce.

A spoon checking the thickness of a creamy sauce for chicken and rice casserole

You need the sauce to be pretty salty at this level, so it doesn’t get too diluted as soon as blended with the rice and greens. The orange-y colour above is because of the smoked paprika.

Chicken and rice casserole filling ingredients in a bowl with the sauce added

Assemble the casserole: Place the chopped broccoli florets, cooked rice, and half the shredded cheddar (about 1 cup) to the bowl with the hen, onions, and carrots. Now pour the sauce over the rice combination within the bowl. Stir till every little thing is mixed and coated in sauce.

A hand sprinkling shredded cheese over a casserole dish of chicken rice filling

Pour the combination into your ready casserole dish and evenly easy it out. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the casserole.

Chicken and rice casserole in a casserole dish before baking

Bake: Place the casserole dish, uncovered, into your preheated oven and bake for about 35 minutes or till it turns into golden brown across the edges.

Chicken and rice casserole in a casserole dish after baking

Serve: After which the tacky goodness is able to devour! Serve scorching and revel in.

Side view of cheese pull from a chicken and rice casserole

Severely. Sure. This hen and rice casserole is EVERYTHING.

Side view of cheesy broccoli rice casserole on a plate with a fork.

Rooster and Rice Casserole – Finances Bytes

Variations to Attempt!

If you wish to have enjoyable and make this hen and rice casserole recipe your personal, strive a few of these variations:

Add peas to the vegetable combine
Use a buttered breadcrumb and Parmesan topping as an alternative of cheddar cheese
Make it gluten-free by swapping the flour for a 1-1 gluten-free flour (Bob’s Crimson Mill GF all-purpose flour is an choice typically advisable from our readers)
Make it dairy-free by utilizing unsweetened almond milk, dairy-free butter, and a vegan cheese various
Add scorching sauce and/or purple pepper flakes to the cheese sauce to make it spicy
Add cooked and crumbled bacon with the hen
Add sautéed mushrooms to the vegetable combine
Use turkey or leftover baked ham as an alternative of hen
Add thawed frozen spinach to the vegetable combine
Make it vegetarian by swapping the hen for vegetarian hen items or a can of drained and rinsed white beans and utilizing vegetable broth (additionally use almond milk, vegan butter, and a shredded vegan cheese various for a vegan variation!)

Serving Options

I’m comfortable to pile this hen and rice casserole right into a bowl, seize a spoon, and DIG IN! However I do love a sprinkle of sliced inexperienced onion or a couple of shakes of scorching sauce on high generally. If you wish to spherical out the meal with some sides, I’d go for sautéed inexperienced beans or air-fried asparagus. And when you’re feeling additional cozy, add some dinner rolls or heat bread for scooping.

Storage & Reheating

Retailer leftover hen broccoli rice casserole in a tightly lined container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days, or freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating, then heat within the microwave or in a 325ºF oven till scorching.

You may as well freeze this casserole earlier than baking. Assemble every little thing in a freezer and oven-safe dish, wrap it properly (a layer of plastic wrap plus foil works nice), and freeze. If you’re prepared, thaw within the fridge in a single day, then bake as directed till scorching and bubbly. Add some additional time within the oven to account for it being chilled. Cowl with foil if the highest browns an excessive amount of earlier than the middle is heated via.

Our Rooster and Rice Casserole recipe was initially revealed 2/9/17. We now have up to date it to be the perfect it may be and republished 2/6/26.

Rooster and Rice Casserole – Finances Bytes

The Coziest Tacky Rooster and Rice Bake