Description
Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting and hearty baked dish featuring tender chicken breasts, creamy soups, and fluffy instant rice all combined into an easy-to-make casserole. This classic recipe blends rich flavors and buttery topping for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice Mixture
- 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
Topping
- ½ cup butter, sliced into pats
Instructions
- Preheat and prep: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease the sides and bottom of a casserole dish to prevent sticking and to ensure easy cleanup.
- Combine ingredients: In the prepared casserole dish, stir together the cubed chicken breasts, water, instant white rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, and cream of mushroom soup. Season the mixture generously with salt and ground black pepper to your taste.
- Top with butter: Evenly arrange the butter pats over the top of the chicken and rice mixture. This will add richness and help create a golden finish on your casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked through.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the casserole set and makes it easier to dish out. Enjoy your comforting Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole!
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs if preferred, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some shredded cheese on top during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Use low-sodium canned soups to control salt content.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Instant rice shortens cooking time, but you can use regular rice—just increase bake time and ensure enough liquid.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
