14 Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casseroles for Busy Nights

Creamy, bubbly, and loaded with comfort — these cheesy chicken and rice casseroles are the ultimate one-dish dinners. Mix, bake, and watch the whole family go back for seconds.

Below you’ll find 14 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Classic Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake

The original comfort classic — creamy rice, tender chicken, bubbling cheddar.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1.5 cups long-grain rice, uncooked
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Stir soup, broth, sour cream, and seasonings in a baking dish.
3. Mix in uncooked rice and chicken.
4. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes.
5. Uncover, top with cheddar, and bake 10 more minutes.

2. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Casserole

Broccoli, chicken, and rice in a velvety cheddar sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 10 oz frozen broccoli florets
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk soup, broth, mayo, and garlic powder.
3. Stir in rice, chicken, and broccoli.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Add cheddar and bake uncovered 10 minutes.

3. Taco Chicken and Rice Casserole

All your taco night flavors baked into one cheesy dish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Stir broth, tomatoes, seasoning, rice, beans, and corn.
3. Fold in chicken and half the cheese.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with remaining cheese; bake 8 minutes.

4. Chicken Bacon Ranch Rice Bake

Ranch-kissed creamy chicken with crispy bacon and two cheeses.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk soup, broth, and ranch in a baking dish.
3. Stir in rice and chicken; cover with foil.
4. Bake 40 minutes until rice is tender.
5. Top with cheeses and bacon; bake 8 more minutes.

5. Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice

Tangy green salsa meets creamy rice and melty Jack cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 1 cup salsa verde
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 cups Monterey Jack
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Combine salsa verde, broth, sour cream, and cumin.
3. Stir in rice and chicken.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with Jack cheese and cilantro; bake 8 minutes.

6. Thai Curry Chicken Rice Bake

Fragrant red curry coconut rice studded with chicken.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 can coconut milk
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 3 tbsp red curry paste
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 2 tbsp chopped basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk coconut milk, broth, and curry paste.
3. Stir in rice, chicken, and peas.
4. Cover and bake 45 minutes.
5. Top with mozzarella; bake 8 minutes; garnish basil.

7. French Onion Chicken and Rice

Caramelized-onion richness with nutty Swiss and a crispy topping.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup crispy fried onions

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk soup, broth, and garlic powder; stir in rice, chicken, onion.
3. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
4. Top with Swiss cheese.
5. Finish with fried onions; bake 8 minutes.

8. Enchilada Chicken and Rice Bake

Smoky enchilada sauce baked into cheesy rice with a kick.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup enchilada sauce
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded pepper Jack
• 1/4 cup sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Stir broth, enchilada sauce, rice, beans, and corn.
3. Fold in chicken.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with pepper Jack; bake 8 minutes; garnish onions.

9. Chicken Parmesan Rice Casserole

Chicken parm flavors — marinara, mozzarella, parmesan — over creamy rice.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1/4 cup fresh basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Combine marinara, water, Italian seasoning, and rice in the dish.
3. Stir in chicken.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with mozzarella and parmesan; bake 10 minutes; add basil.

10. Buffalo Chicken and Rice Bake

Spicy buffalo chicken baked into cheesy rice — game-day approved.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 cup buffalo sauce
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1/4 cup sliced celery
• 2 tbsp blue cheese crumbles

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk buffalo sauce, broth, and ranch.
3. Stir in rice and chicken.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with cheddar; bake 8 minutes; garnish celery and blue cheese.

11. Mushroom Swiss Chicken Casserole

Earthy mushrooms and nutty Gruyère in a golden-topped bake.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1.5 cups rice, uncooked
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of celery soup
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 8 oz sliced mushrooms
• 2 cups shredded Gruyère
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Sauté mushrooms 5 minutes until golden.
3. Whisk soup, broth, and thyme; stir in rice, chicken, mushrooms.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with Gruyère and panko; bake 10 minutes.

12. Hawaiian Chicken and Rice Bake

Sweet pineapple, peppers, and sweet chili sauce under melty mozzarella.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1 cup rice, uncooked
• 1 cup diced pineapple
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1.5 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup sliced scallions

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Whisk sweet chili sauce and broth.
3. Stir in rice, chicken, pineapple, and pepper.
4. Cover and bake 40 minutes.
5. Top with mozzarella; bake 8 minutes; garnish scallions.

13. Creamy Spinach Chicken and Rice Casserole

Tender chicken and rice baked in a creamy spinach-cheese sauce.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 10 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F; grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Mix cream cheese, sour cream, and garlic powder until smooth.
3. Fold in chicken, rice, spinach, and half the mozzarella.
4. Spread in the dish; top with remaining cheeses.
5. Bake 25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
6. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

14. Cheesy Salsa Chicken and Rice Bake

Zesty salsa and melty cheese turn chicken and rice into a fiesta bake.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed
• 1 cup corn
• 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp cumin

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F; grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. Combine chicken, rice, salsa, beans, corn, cumin, and sour cream.
3. Spread in the dish and top with shredded cheese.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until hot and bubbly.
5. Top with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

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