Description
Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting and hearty one-dish meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered with creamy soups and instant white rice, baked to perfection with buttery goodness. This classic casserole combines three creamy soups for deep flavor and is easy to prepare, perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
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 Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease the sides and bottom of a casserole dish thoroughly to prevent sticking during baking.
- Combine Ingredients: In the prepared casserole dish, add the cubed chicken breasts, water, instant white rice, cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, and cream of mushroom soup. Stir everything together until well incorporated. Season the mixture with salt and ground black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Top with Butter: Evenly distribute the sliced pats of butter over the top of the chicken and rice mixture. This will create a rich, golden topping as it bakes.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. The casserole is done when the rice is tender, the chicken is cooked through, and the top is bubbling with butter.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. This resting time allows the casserole to set slightly, making it easier to dish out. Enjoy your comforting Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole!
Notes
- You can substitute different cream soups according to preference, but keep the total quantity the same to maintain moisture balance.
- Using instant rice reduces cooking time significantly and ensures the rice cooks evenly within the casserole.
- If you prefer, swap butter pats for melted butter to pour evenly over the top, although pats help achieve a more rustic texture.
- To ensure chicken is thoroughly cooked, use a meat thermometer; it should read 165°F (74°C) internally.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American Southern
