This easy Creamy Chicken Casserole Recipe is the ultimate comfort food, loaded with tender chicken, rice, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. Perfect for busy weeknights!
Before You Cook, Read This!
💬The Vibe: Creamy, comforting, and effortlessly delicious. If cozy comfort food is your love language, this casserole is your new best friend.
🔑What You Gotta Know: Cream cheese is the MVP here—make sure it’s softened to room temp! It blends seamlessly with butter, giving your casserole that dreamy, creamy texture that’ll make everyone come back for seconds.
🍴Best Bite Alert: Serve it hot and bubbly from the oven topped with extra shredded cheese or a crunchy, buttery Ritz cracker topping. Pair it with buttery rolls or crisp salad to balance the richness.
This Chicken and Rice Casserole is comfort food at its best. Creamy, cheesy, and incredibly easy to throw together!
Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight meal or something cozy to feed the family, this recipe has you covered. Let’s get started!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cooked Chicken (shredded or diced) - Adds hearty protein and texture to the casserole.
- Cooked Rice - Provides a comforting base, making the dish filling and satisfying.
- Butter - Brings richness and moisture, helping bind the ingredients smoothly.
- Cream Cheese - This creates a creamy, velvety texture and enhances the overall flavor.
- Cream of Chicken Soup - Adds savory flavor, creaminess, and helps to bind the casserole.
- Garlic Powder - Provides subtle depth and enhances savory notes without overpowering the dish. Minced garlic could be substituted
- Italian Dressing Mix - Adds a zesty flavor boost with a perfect blend of herbs and spices.
- Chicken Stock - Ensures the casserole stays moist and flavorful while baking. Chicken broth could be substituted.
- Shredded Cheese - Provides gooey texture, cheesy flavor, and a delicious bubbly topping.
- Salt & Ground Black Pepper - Enhances and balances all the flavors in the casserole. Adjust to your preference.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.
How to Make Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Whisk the softened butter and room-temperature cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.
Add the chicken, rice, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, Italian dressing mix, chicken stock, half of the cheese, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix until combined.
Evenly spread the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F. for 20-25 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
Broccoli Chicken and Rice: Fold steamed broccoli florets into the mixture before baking. Use cheddar or a cheddar blend for extra cheesy flavor.
Buffalo Chicken and Rice: Add buffalo sauce and ranch seasoning to the chicken mixture. Top the assembled casserole with blue cheese crumbles or shredded mozzarella. Serve with extra ranch dressing on the side.
Make it Vegetarian: Replace chicken with sautéed mushrooms or chickpeas, and use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken soup.
Gluten-Free: Substitute cream of chicken soup with gluten-free cream soup options, and use homemade Italian dressing mix.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Chicken Tip: Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken for a shortcut option.
- Rice Tip: Use leftover rice or freshly cooked rice. Both work perfectly! Jasmine, Basmati, or long-grain rice is especially delicious here. I love using bagged frozen rice for a quick microwavable option.
- Cheese Suggestion: Cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack works wonderfully, but feel free to get creative with your favorites!
- Flavor Boosters: Consider adding sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or diced bell peppers for extra veggies and flavor.
- Crunchy Topping Idea: For a delicious crispy topping, sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter over the cheese before baking.
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What to Serve with Chicken Casserole
Here are some delicious and easy ideas for sides to serve alongside your creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole, perfect for completing the meal:
- Buttery Dinner Rolls: Warm, soft, and perfect for sopping up any creamy sauce.
- Cornbread: Sweet or savory, it's a deliciously comforting addition.
- Southern-Style Collard Greens: Seasoned with ham hocks or smoked turkey for deep, savory flavor.
- Pear Walnut Blue Cheese Salad: Adds freshness, crunch, and sweetness to balance the creamy casserole.
- Pickled Red Onions: Brightens and balances richness with tangy sweetness.
Storage Tips
Storage. Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil, or transfer the leftovers into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating. Reheat the baked chicken and rice in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees F. until warm or reheat in the microwave for a quicker option.
Freezing. The casserole can also be stored in the freezer for up to a month. Remove it from the freezer the night before you're ready to serve to allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Heat it in the oven until warmed.
Want More Easy Casserole Recipes? Try These:
- Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli Casserole
- Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
- Easy Hamburger Casserole
- Meatball Casserole
- Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Did you make this creamy chicken and rice casserole? I'd love to hear how it turned out! Snap a pic and tag me @simplylakita on social media, or leave a comment below!
Yes! It’s a delicious, convenient option.
Absolutely. Prepare the casserole, cover it tightly, refrigerate it, and bake it when you’re ready.
Yes, simply use two casserole dishes or a larger pan. Baking time may increase slightly.
Make sure it’s room temperature. Use a hand mixer or heat it a bit in the microwave in short 30-second intervals until it's easier to whisk.
📖 Recipe
Creamy Chicken Casserole Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 hand mixer or whisk
- 1 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.7 ounces Italian Dressing Mix
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 cups shredded cheese, divided in half
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk the softened ½ cup butter and 8 ounces cream cheese in a large bowl until smooth.
- Add the 3 cups shredded chicken, 3 cups cooked rice, 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 0.7 ounces Italian dressing mix, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 cup shredded cheese, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Mix until combined.
- Evenly spread the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with 1 cup shredded cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F. for 20-25 minutes.
- Carefully remove from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Chicken Tip: Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken for a shortcut option.
- Rice Tip: Use leftover rice or freshly cooked rice. Both work perfectly! Jasmine, Basmati, or long-grain rice is especially delicious here. I love using bagged frozen rice for a quick microwavable option.
- Cheese Suggestion: Cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack works wonderfully, but feel free to get creative with your favorites!
- Flavor Boosters: Consider adding sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or diced bell peppers for extra veggies and flavor.
- Crunchy Topping Idea: For a delicious crispy topping, sprinkle crushed Ritz crackers or breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter over the cheese before baking.
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