Rice and Chicken Casserole

Creamy and delicious, this Rice and Chicken Casserole will make a fabulous dinner for the whole family to enjoy.  Our easy rice and chicken casserole is loaded with spinach, 3 kinds of cheese, and chicken, and it bakes in minutes.  This dinner is very flavorful, and satisfying and will become a family favorite.

 

Rice and Chicken Casserole (this is a step-by-step tutorial)…

• This rice and chicken casserole was 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 a green salad for a complete dinner.  🙂

 

How to make our Rice and Chicken Casserole… 

1.  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.

2.  Second, there is some prep work involved. You will need 3 cups of “cooked rice” and at least 3 chicken breasts.

 

For this recipe, a few quick notes…

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

 

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

(*Full recipe card below!)

Easy Steps 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.

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.

 

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).

 

Assemble the Casserole…

Now, you are ready to put this casserole together.

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

2.  Place grilled chicken pieces on top.

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

4.  Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden around the edges.

COOK’S NOTES and TIPS:

• Do not overbake, or it will dry it out.
• It’s best to use long-grain or sticky rice.  Instant rice will not work.

Our reasons to grill the chicken before adding it to the casserole…

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

1.  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 looking bland or boiled.

3.   And finally, it makes this rice and chicken casserole bake in less time.  A win-win!

Questions and 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. Can 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. Make this Casserole 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. 

Before you bake, 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 it in a preheated oven at 350 degrees, for at least 15 to 20 minutes, or longer (if needed) until it’s popping hot.

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!!

If you enjoy Cheesy Casseroles, then try these:

• Baked Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
• Easy Chicken Casserole (Cordon Bleu)
• Best Rice Ball Casserole Stuffed with Meat and Peas
• Broccoli and Cheese Casserole
• Best Eggplant Manicotti Casserole
• Easy Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
• EASY Stuffed Shells

 

Finally, enjoy a few more Chicken Recipes…

• Chicken Tenders Smothered in Lemon and Parsley
• Baked Chicken Nuggets – the healthy way!
• Chicken Pot Pie without Pie Crust
• Mom’s Best Chicken Piccata

• Crispy Stuffed Chicken Breasts

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.

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

Are you cooking or baking with us?  If you make our easy Rice and Chicken Casserole, let us know and leave a comment and a star rating on our recipe card!

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Happy Cooking and Baking! 🙂

Thanks for stopping by!

xo Anna and Liz