Finding easy dinner recipes that please the whole family can feel like an endless struggle. Between juggling after-school activities, work deadlines, and household chores, the last thing anyone wants is to spend hours in the kitchen trying to figure out what to cook that everyone will actually eat.
That’s why these chicken and rice casserole recipes are total lifesavers – they’re simple to put together, budget-friendly, and the kind of comfort food that both kids and adults happily dig into. Plus, most of them can be prepped ahead and even frozen for those especially busy weeknights.
Best Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, separated
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 to 8 ounces each)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 10 ounces mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
- 1 ½ cups mixed wild rice
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock (16 ounces)
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 3 tablespoons plain flour
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
- 1 cup full-fat milk
Total Time: 45-65 minutes
Grab your favorite casserole dish for this cozy chicken and wild rice dinner. The rice soaks up all the good stuff – wine, stock, and herbs – while cooking alongside tender chicken and mushrooms. It’s the kind of meal that feels like a warm hug, perfect for busy weeknights when you want something filling but not fussy. Use any mushrooms you have on hand, and don’t skip the celery – it adds just the right crunch. If you’re out of wine, just use extra chicken stock instead.
Best NYE Style Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 2 diced celery stalks
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup parboiled rice
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
- 1 (15.5 oz) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15.25 oz) can corn, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
Total Time: 25-35 minutes
Start your year right with this cozy, crowd-pleasing casserole that brings good luck to your table. Mix tender chicken thighs with black-eyed peas (a New Year’s tradition!), rice, and colorful vegetables in one dish. The combination of diced tomatoes, green chilies, and melted cheddar cheese creates a satisfying meal that’s perfect for feeding family and friends. Just layer everything in your casserole dish and let the oven do the work while you count down to midnight.
Easy Casserole One Pot Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3/4 cup uncooked rice
- 1 can (10 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Total Time: 45-55 minutes
This one-pot casserole is what I call my “back-pocket recipe” – perfect for those busy weeknights when you want something comforting but don’t have time for complicated cooking. The combination of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and cheese creates a meal that both kids and adults will happily dig into.
It’s really a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dish. While it cooks, the rice soaks up all the savory flavors from the chicken broth and cream soup, and the broccoli keeps its slight crunch. As one of my regular readers noted, “It’s become my go-to dish for potlucks because it always comes home empty.”
Serve it straight from the pot with some crusty bread on the side, and you’ve got dinner sorted. It also reheats beautifully for lunch the next day – if you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers!
Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 2 cups white rice
- 1 white onion, diced
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 chicken thighs, bone-in skin-on
- 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Total Time: 105-120 minutes
This classic chicken and rice casserole is the kind of comfort food that makes everyone feel at home. The combination of tender chicken thighs and perfectly cooked rice creates a meal that’s both filling and satisfying.
The magic happens when the rice soaks up all those wonderful flavors from the chicken broth and cream, while the Italian seasoning and garlic powder add just the right touch of homestyle goodness. I’ve found that using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs makes all the difference – they stay juicy and add so much flavor to the dish.
Serve it straight from the oven with a simple green salad on the side, and you’ve got a dinner that’ll make any weeknight feel special. As my kids always say, “It’s like a warm hug in a bowl!”
Easy Chicken Breast and Broccoli with Knorr Rice
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 12 ounces broccoli florets
- 10 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 knorr chicken broccoli rice side dish
- 1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese (split)
Total Time: 75-80 minutes
If you’re looking for a no-fuss dinner that comes together quickly, this chicken and broccoli rice dish is just what you need. The combination of tender chicken breast and broccoli, mixed with creamy soup and melted cheese, makes this a family favorite at my house. Pro tip: You can prep the chicken and broccoli ahead of time and store them in the fridge, making weeknight assembly even faster.
Easy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 cup steamed broccoli, diced
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ritz crackers (optional topping)
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese (optional topping)
- 2 teaspoons parsley (optional topping)
- 4 tablespoons melted butter (optional topping)
Total Time: 50-70 minutes
If you’re looking for a comforting dinner that the whole family will enjoy, this chicken broccoli rice casserole fits the bill perfectly. You can prep most of the ingredients ahead of time – steam the broccoli, cook the rice, and dice the chicken – which makes assembly a breeze when you’re ready to cook. Pro tip: If you want to make it even more filling, add some diced carrots or mushrooms when you’re sautéing the celery and onions.
Easy Old School Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients:
- 1 rotisserie chicken (4 cups cooked, chopped)
- 1 (10.5 oz) can no-salt-added chicken soup
- 1 (10.5 oz) can celery soup
- 1 (10.5 oz) can no-salt-added mushroom soup
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups quick-cooking rice (uncooked)
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (fresh or canned)
Total Time: 55-75 minutes
This old-school chicken and rice casserole brings back memories of family dinners around the kitchen table. Using a rotisserie chicken saves time, while three kinds of creamy soup make it rich and filling. Just mix everything in one dish, pop it in the oven, and let it do its thing. The quick-cooking rice soaks up all the good flavors, and a sprinkle of parmesan on top adds just the right touch. It’s the kind of no-fuss meal that works great for busy weeknights or when you need to feed a crowd.
Easy Ozark Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 stalk of celery, chopped
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 (6 oz) package chicken stuffing mix
Total Time: 28-40 minutes
If you’re looking for a comforting meal that brings together simple ingredients, this Ozark Casserole is right up your alley. The combination of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and crispy stuffing topping makes this a dish the whole family will enjoy. Pro tip: You can prep all the vegetables the night before and store them in the fridge, making dinner assembly quick and easy when you’re short on time.
Hearty Rice Casserole with Cream of Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
- Three 10.5-ounce cans of condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 cups uncooked instant rice
- 2 cups shredded or chopped cooked chicken (such as rotisserie)
- 2 cups frozen vegetable blend
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon italian herbs
- Pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 3 cups cheddar cheese, grated (reserve some for topping)
Total Time: 65-75 minutes
This is comfort food at its best – a creamy, cheesy rice casserole that comes together with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. The combination of tender chicken, fluffy rice, and mixed vegetables creates a meal that’ll make everyone at the table happy.
While it’s not fancy, it’s the kind of dish that becomes a family favorite. The cream of chicken soup and chicken stock give the rice a rich, savory base, while the cheese makes everything wonderfully gooey. As my kids like to say, “it’s like a warm hug in a bowl.”
Serve it on a cold evening with a simple green salad and some crusty bread. If you’re smart, make a double batch – the leftovers heat up perfectly for lunch the next day!
Savory Broccoli Rice Casserole with Cream of Chicken Soup
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 2 cups of diced cooked chicken)
- 1 teaspoon italian herbs
- Salt/pepper to taste
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups raw broccoli florets
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup crushed ritz crackers
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Total Time: 55-70 minutes
Get your casserole dish ready for this comforting broccoli rice bake that’s perfect for busy weeknights. The chicken and rice cook up tender in chicken stock while fresh broccoli adds color and crunch. Mix in cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese for a creamy, satisfying base. Top it all with buttery crushed Ritz crackers that get golden and crispy in the oven. This is the kind of dinner that makes everyone at the table happy, and leftovers heat up great for lunch the next day.