Chicken And Rice Casserole Best Recipe From Scratch Wellplated Com

While I am all for a fresh twist on an old favorite (the curry spices in this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice and the southwest spin on this Mexican Chicken and Rice make these recipes special), sometimes what we need is a dish at its most old-fashioned self. This old fashioned chicken and rice casserole isn’t wild. It won’t blow your mind with never before thought of flavors or tectonic levels of spice. And that is exactly the point. This is comfort food at its most pure. It’s creamy and carby. A warm hug for a cold evening. Chicken and rice casserole has extreme crowd appeal. From picky teens to choosy toddlers to exacting adults, it’s hard not to love a tender chicken dish with creamy rice and cheese.

How to Make the Best Chicken and Rice Casserole

In true Well Plated fashion, I made this easy chicken and rice casserole healthy with a few simple, lightened-up twists.

Instead of heavy cream, I made the chicken and rice casserole with milk and Greek yogurt. It tastes decadent!It’s made entirely from scratch. If you’re looking for chicken and rice casserole with cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix, cream of chicken soup, or cream of celery soup I’m afraid this isn’t it. Trust me, homemade is easy and SO much better.It lays on the veggies. A bag of frozen mixed vegetables (which typically contains green beans, corn, peas, and carrots) makes quick work of adding healthy servings.

The Ingredients

White Whole Wheat Flour. Helps thicken the sauce to create the ideal casserole consistency. Chicken Broth. Adds savoriness and forms part of the casserole sauce. Milk. I used nonfat milk, but you can use any you have on hand. Frozen Mixed Vegetables. An ultra easy and quick way to bulk the veggie content in this casserole. Typically contains corn, peas, and carrots.Greek Yogurt. For creaminess and a healthy boost of protein. You can use either 2% or full-fat Greek yogurt. I don’t recommend using fat free, as it curdles more easily. Cheeses. A blend of sharp cheddar and Mozzarella is the move. Both melt to gooey, cheesy perfection. Dijon Mustard. Elevates the cheesiness and adds zip. You can’t taste it specifically; rather, it helps the dish pop.Dried Thyme. For homey, herby flavor.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. Refrigerate leftover casserole in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. To Reheat. Rewarm casserole in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Baking Dish. A classic, high-quality baking dish that you’ll have forever. Dutch Oven. Can be used for so many different recipes. Spatula. This heat-resistant spatula is incredibly versatile.

Cheesy, creamy, carby, chicken-y. I wouldn’t have my healthy chicken and rice casserole any other way! Having a greater amount of chicken makes the casserole more filling by providing extra protein. You can also fully assemble the unbaked casserole up to 1 day in advance. Cover tightly and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.