Rice and Chicken Casserole

Indulge in the creamy and delicious flavors of this irresistible Chicken and Rice Casserole – the perfect dinner option for your entire family. Made with spinach, 3 kinds of cheese, and chicken, and it bakes in minutes.  This dinner is very flavorful, and satisfying and will become a favorite.

 

A white plate with some rice and chicken casserole on it.

Rice and Chicken Casserole…

This rice and chicken casserole is a combination of our two favorite recipes, our Spinach and Kale Bites and Italian Rice Balls with Cheese. It makes a delicious casserole for dinner and reheats well the next day.

Best of all, this casserole is inexpensive and will feed a family of 6 for under 20 dollars. Serve it with our cheesy mini biscuits and our best broccoli salad to round out the meal.  🙂

How To Make Rice and Chicken Casserole? 

(This is a step-by-step tutorial!)

QUICK NOTE: First, you should know, that there is no condensed soup, nor any cream cheese in this recipe.  Plus, I gave this rice and chicken casserole a little “Italian flare” to it. Also, to speed things up? You will need 3 cups of ” already cooked rice” and at least 3 chicken breasts, sliced in half.

 

Notes and Tips for Success…

  • I measured one cup of “uncooked” Jasmine rice and cooked it with 2 cups of water, for about 15 to 20 minutes.  This will yield 3 cups of cooked rice. 

    Therefore, 1 cup of uncooked rice = 3 cups of cooked rice; which is what I used for this recipe.

  • I also bought 3 chicken breasts from my butcher and had him slice each one in half, so they could be thinner (and I didn’t have to do it).
Some chicken cutlets laid on wax paper, and a pot of cooked rice on the stove.

 

Ingredients Needed for our Rice and Chicken Casserole:

  • 3 cups of cooked rice
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium-size onion- chopped
  • 3 chicken breasts, sliced in halves
  • 5 cups packed of baby spinach (about 10 ounces)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra
  • 3 Tbsp.  grated pecorino cheese
  • 1 + 3/4 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • fresh cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 Tbsp. of fresh or dried parsley

Follow with our Easy Step-by-Step Directions…

(*full printable recipe card below!)

Directions To Make This Casserole…

1.  COOK THE RICE: Cook 1 cup of rice according to the directions on the package.  Stir in 2 tablespoons of butter, and set it aside.

2.  SAUTE THE SPINACH: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add the chopped onion.  Saute the onions until they soften.  Add the spinach and stir cook the spinach until it wilts for about  1 to 2 minutes.  Turn off the heat.

Steps to saute the onions and spinach

3.  NEXT, MAKE THE MIXTURE: Grab a large mixing bowl, and whisk 2 eggs with the milk.  Then add the cooked rice, along with the cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, parsley, wilted spinach mixture, parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, and cheddar cheese.  Stir the entire mixture until well combined.  Set it aside.

Steps for the rice and mixture in a silver bowl.

 

4.  GRILL THE CHICKEN: Using the same skillet, grill the chicken on moderate heat for a few minutes per side.  Do not over-grill them. Transfer to a plate and cut them in half (making 6 pieces).

NOTE: if you prefer, you can chop the chicken into smaller pieces and stir them into the rice mixture.

Grilling chicken in skillet. by 2sistersrecipes.com

Assemble the Casserole…

Now, you are ready to put this casserole together.

STEP 1.  Transfer the rice and spinach mixture to the prepared baking dish.  Spread evenly with a spoon.

STEP 2.  Place grilled chicken pieces on top.

STEP 3.  Sprinkle with some grated cheddar cheese and with grated parmesan cheese.

STEP 4.  Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden around the edges. NOTE: Do not overbake, or it will dry it out.

4 steps to the rice casserole with chicken added on top.

Reasons to grill the chicken before adding it to the casserole…

For healthy and sanitary reasons, we grill the chicken before adding it to our rice casserole because:

  1. To ensure the chicken will get fully cooked while in the oven, and not risk being undercooked.
  2. Plus, it will give the chicken its golden color, rather than bland or boiled.
  3. And finally, it makes this rice and chicken casserole bake in less time.  A win-win!
A spoon is scooping some chicken and rice in a baking dish.

Variations for this casserole…

  • choose your favorite cheeses and toss them into the mixture.
  • use other parts of chicken, even shredded chicken.
  • use your favorite greens, like peas, broccoli florets, or kale.

Questions & Answers…

1. Can We Use Chicken Cutlets? Yes, you can, but grill only for 1 minute per side, to avoid overcooking them.

2. Can We Use Instant Rice? I don’t recommend using instant rice with this recipe.  But if you wish to try it, please come back and leave a comment to tell us the outcome.   We’d love to know.

3. May We Use Frozen Spinach? Although I used fresh baby spinach, you can make this casserole using frozen chopped spinach.  Just remember to thaw and squeeze out excess water from it before sauting it with the onion.

4. Can We Make Ahead? Yes, you can prepare the entire casserole, including the grilled chicken in the morning or early afternoon.  Cover with foil wrap and keep it chilled in the fridge. 

5. How To Freeze? Assemble the casserole, and allow it to cool completely before you cover it with aluminum foil and freeze. It will freeze well for up to 1 month.

6. When Ready To Bake: If chilled in the refrigerator: it’s best to take it out of the fridge and leave it on your counter for at least 1/2 hour before popping it into the oven.  Cover with aluminum wrap. Then bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees, for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or longer (if needed) until it’s popping hot.

7. How To Thaw, If Frozen: It’s best to thaw either on your counter for a few hours or place it in your refrigerator the night before.

A scoop of rice and chicken from a white baking dish.

Our Rice and Chicken Casserole is a meal your whole family will love! 

We bet your whole family will devour this casserole and enjoy every bite.  It’s the perfect meal containing carbs, protein, and veggies. If you’re looking for an ideal dinner, then this rice and chicken casserole is it!

Try it!  … and ENJOY!!

More Cheesy Casseroles You’ll Love…

Finally, enjoy a few more Chicken Recipes…

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Rice and Chicken Casserole

Rice and Chicken Casserole by 2sistersrecipes.com

Rice and Chicken Casserole will make a delicious dinner for the whole family to enjoy. It's flavorful and satisfying and perfect for a busy weeknight.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups of cooked rice
  • 2 Tbsp. butter - melted
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium-size onion- chopped
  • 3 chicken breasts, sliced in halves
  • 5 cups packed with baby spinach (about 10-ounces)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra
  • 3 Tbsp. grated pecorino cheese
  • 1 + 3/4 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • fresh cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 Tbsp. of fresh or dried parsley
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. With cooking spray, lightly spray a 9 x 12-inch ( 2.5 or 3 quarts) casserole dish. Set it aside.
  2. Cook 1 cup of rice in a small pot according to directions. Then stir in 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Set it aside.
  3. In a 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil and add the chopped onion. Saute the onions for about 3 minutes, until it softens. Add the spinach and stir to cook the spinach until it wilts for about 1 to 2 minutes. Then turn off the heat.
  4. Next, grab a large mixing bowl, and whisk 2 eggs with the milk. Then add the cooked rice, along with the cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper, parsley, wilted spinach mixture, parmesan cheese, pecorino cheese, and cheddar cheese. Stir the entire mixture until well combined. Transfer to the prepared baking casserole dish. Spread evenly with the back of a spoon.
  5. In the same skillet, on high heat, grill the chicken for at least 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove to a plate, and cut them into halves ( giving you a total of 6 pieces).
  6. Place the six pieces of chicken over the rice mixture. Sprinkle with some grated parmesan cheese and grated cheddar cheese on top.
  7. Bake on the center rack for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and golden around the edges. Remove and serve while it is still hot.
  8. Yields: 6 to 8 servings

Notes

Always remember, that cooking times will vary depending on the oven you use. It's best to keep an eye on the baking time, around 15 minutes, and to not overbake the casserole or it will dry it out. ENJOY!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8 servins

Serving Size:

1 serving

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 384Total Fat: 20.5gCarbohydrates: 22.6gFiber: 1gSugar: 2.3gProtein: 27.9g

Did you make this recipe?

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Nutrition Facts: Serving size: 1 serving, Total Servings: 8.  Calories: 384,  Fat: 20.5, Saturated Fat: 10.1, Cholesterol 119mg, Sodium 451mg, Total Carbohydrate 22.6g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Total Sugars 2.3g, Protein 27.9g, Vitamin D 9mcg, Calcium 340mg, Iron 2mg, Potassium 209mg.

Rice and Chicken Casserole by 2sistersrecipes.com

That’s it, friends. Any questions? … ask away.

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Happy Cooking and Baking! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

xo anna and liz

anna and liz selfie

Welcome! From Anna and Liz

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10 Comments

  1. Rice and chicken casserole, made last Saturday. Great dish easy to make, quick and inexpensive

    1. Thank you so much Joe for trying our recipe for this rice and chicken casserole. Glad you enjoyed it, and hope you will continue to try a few more recipes from our site! Have a great day. 🙂

  2. Wow everyone always makes chicken and rice to be healthy and it is usually boring but this made it finally so much tastier to get your protein in!!! Thanks Anna and Liz cant wait to try this!!!