Description
A comforting and creamy chicken casserole that brings warmth and flavor to busy weeknight dinners, featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and a cheesy topping.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a lighter flavor)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or a non-dairy alternative)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 cups cooked rice
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (or nutritional yeast for a vegan option)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent (about 5 minutes).
- Add chicken to skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides (5-7 minutes).
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add heavy cream, Dijon mustard, thyme, rosemary, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in cheddar cheese until melted.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cooked rice with chicken mixture and transfer to a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and melted butter. Sprinkle over casserole.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and topping is golden brown. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
Leftover cooked chicken can be added directly without sautéing. For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with vegetables and use vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: chicken casserole, creamy casserole, comfort food, weeknight dinner, family meal