This creamy chicken rice casserole is made from scratch, easy to put together, and tastes delicious. With a few basic ingredients and flavors, it’s a family friendly comfort food that everyone will enjoy.
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Hello friends. How are you?
Today I’m starting this week off by sharing with you a delicious family friendly comfort food.
This chicken and rice casserole is made from scratch (no canned soup ingredients here).
I don’t know about you but for my family, casseroles, as a rule, are not on the top of their list of favorite meals. My kids prefer their foods non-mixed.
You know those compartmental plates where everything has a place and nothing can accidentally sneak over to the next compartment? Yeah I need to get some. Whoever invented them was a genius.
Around here flying temper tantrums have been known to occur over food touching other food. Yes it’s true. I’m sure that NEVER happens at your house.
Having said that this recipe is one exception to the rule about casseroles.
Everyone loves this chicken and rice casserole.
I think because it’s so basic but so good. The chicken is tender, soft and juicy and the rice has plenty of flavor mixed with the sauce. Super kid friendly comfort food, but tasty for adults too.
Those are the best kinds of recipes.
What to serve with it
I almost always serve this with a steamed green vegetable of some sort because it’s fast and easy. Broccoli or asparagus would probably be my top choices.
I use this chicken bouillon substitute in this recipe (yes, another winning use for it). But you can also substitute low sodium chicken stock in place of the chicken bouillon and water. If you are subbing the chicken stock, just taste the sauce and add any additional salt if it’s needed.
If you want to adapt this recipe to be gluten free, just use a gluten free flour in place of the all-purpose flour in the sauce.
Okay my friends. Until next time.
Chicken Rice Casserole
This creamy chicken rice casserole is made from scratch, easy to put together, and tastes delicious. With a few basic ingredients and flavors, it's a family friendly comfort food that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ teaspoons chicken bouillon see note
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 ¼ cup milk
- ¾ cup sour cream
- 2 ½ cup water
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 to 1 1/2 pounds each
- salt & pepper to taste
- chopped fresh or dried parsley for garnish
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Pour uncooked rice in bottom of 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.
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In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, chicken bouillon, and black pepper and whisk until clumps form. Cook for a minute to develop flavor, stirring often.
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Slowly add milk and whisk to remove clumps. Heat and continue stirring until mixture thickens. Then add sour cream and water and stir. Set aside.
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Prepare chicken by trimming fat and seasoning with salt and pepper (more or less as desired). Place chicken in 9×13-inch baking dish on top of rice and pour sauce mixture over top.
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Bake casserole uncovered in preheated 325 degrees F oven. Remove dish from the oven after 45 minutes, carefully remove chicken, and give it a quick stir to redistribute the rice mixture. Then place chicken back in the dish on top of rice mixture and return to the oven.
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Test chicken with an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast after it has cooked for 1 hour 15 minutes. Return to the oven if temperature is less than 165 degrees F. Check again after 5 to 10 minutes, if needed, being careful to not overcook. When chicken has reached appropriate temperature, remove from oven and sprinkle fresh or dried parsley on top before serving.
Recipe Notes
1. I use this homemade chicken bouillon for this recipe. You can also omit the chicken bouillon and use low sodium chicken stock in place of the water. Then add additional salt to the sauce, if needed.
Recipe Source: Heather @ The Cook’s Treat
All images and text ©The Cook’s Treat
Disclaimer: post contains affiliate links for items on Amazon.
