Published 11/2/2021 • Updated 8/25/2024 We’ve been eating (and making) chicken casserole since we can remember and this is our tried and true Midwestern chicken and rice casserole recipe that we’ve made time and time again! You won’t find any cream of chicken soup or any other nonsense in this recipe. Just chicken, rice, tons a veggies, and cheese, of course! From a classic midwestern chicken and rice casserole like this one to creative Asian-inspired casseroles like orange chicken casserole, we are huge fans of taking classic chicken dinners and turning them into casseroles. One thing that sets this healthy chicken casserole apart from others on the internet is that we dump everything into a casserole dish RAW. That’s right, there’s no pre-baking, sautéing, etc. in this recipe. Dump. Bake. Eat. PS: check out our one-pot chicken and rice recipe. It has a very similar flavor profile but uses chicken thighs and a Dutch oven instead!
What You Need for this Classic Chicken Casserole Recipe
Minute brown or white rice: feel free to use either variation as we have tested both. This is the product we use. Chicken breast: make sure to use raw chicken breast and to cut them into 1-inch chunks so that they fully cook. Veggies: you need onion, carrot, green peas, and broccoli. Milk: milk is used to make this a delicious creamy sauce. Broth: broth is used for more liquid volume. Feel free to use any kind. Shredded cheddar cheese: the more cheddar the better! We recommend shredding your own cheese, if possible. Spices: garlic powder, salt, and pepper
What kind of dish should I bake my casserole in?
Our chicken casserole recipes call for ceramic casserole dishes and let me tell you, there is a difference between that and a baking pan. Casserole dishes are like cast iron pans in that they bake things more evenly and faster than a normal metal baking pan. We much prefer to use a ceramic casserole dish for our chicken casserole recipes for this exact reason. However, no fear if you don’t have one! A baking pan or a dutch oven also works great.
How to Make this Midwestern Chicken Casserole
Prep Veggies and Chicken
Part 1 is all about prepping your veggies and chicken. This chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole calls for the following ingredients that need to be chopped:
broccoli carrot onion chicken breast
Once you chop those things, place them on the bottom of your casserole dish along with some green peas and quick-cooking rice. You’ll notice that everything on this list is raw/uncooked. That means you don’t need ore-cooked chicken which is an absolute dream.
Make Cheese Sauce
Up next it’s time to make your homemade cheese sauce! That’s right, no need to buy cream of mushroom soup. For this, you’ll need shredded cheddar cheese, broth, and milk (any kind). Heat a small pot over medium/high heat and add your liquid. Once simmering, add cheese and turn the heat down to low/medium. Continuously stir until cheese melts. Finally, pour sauce on top of the veggies in the casserole dish. Note: you’ll notice that there is no roux involved. We’re keeping it simple with melted cheesy creamy goodness, but feel free to make a roux-based cheese sauce.
Bake Casserole
All of that should take you around 20 minutes to prepare. From there, all you need to do is bake your casserole in the oven at 375ºF for 40 minutes, covered. Remove from the oven and add a generous amount of cheese to the top. Place back in the oven for 10-15 more minutes.
Let it Sit
Once your chicken is fully cooked, it’s time to let your casserole rest. This may sound like a funny thing to do, but I promise it’s important! By letting your casserole rest on the stove-top for 15 minutes, you’ll let all of the liquid the chicken gave off soak up into the rice and veggies. I promise it’s worth it!
Can you put chicken in a casserole raw?
You do not need to cook your chicken before putting it into a casserole if you plan to cook your casserole for at least 45 minutes in the oven. However, if you come across a casserole that bakes less, you can absolutely use a pre-cooked shredded chicken.
How long can you keep chicken casserole in the fridge?
Most chicken casseroles will last 3-5 days in the fridge. Storage tip: make sure to store your casserole in an airtight container with the lid on.
Can I freeze chicken casserole?
Chicken casserole is a great freezer meal. Let your casserole cool completely and then cover it with a piece of plastic wrap, pressing it onto the top of your casserole and removing as much air as possible. Then, cover it with a piece of tin foil doing the same thing.
Best Chicken Casserole Recipes
And now, here is the lineup of all of our best chicken casserole recipes from Fit Foodie Finds. Here’s you’ll find flavors from all over the world! Enjoy.
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
This lighter-fare Chicken Pot Pie Casserole is jam-packed with veggies, lean chicken, and that amazing creamy pop pie flavor!
Most Flavorful Chicken and Rice
The most flavorful chicken and rice recipe on the internet. Our chicken and rice bake is made with juicy chicken thighs and a delightful rice medley so you get extra veggies!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Say hello to the most delicious chicken parmesan casserole. This pasta casserole has crispy chicken, savory marinara sauce, and lots of CHEESE. It is the perfect family dinner that everyone will love!
Chicken Tikka Masala Casserole
This chicken tikka masala casserole recipe is one of the most delicious and easy chicken casserole recipes around! It has all of the traditional flavors of chicken tikka masala in casserole form. Make this chicken tikka masala casserole for dinner this week!
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
In just 60 minutes you can make this healthy chicken enchilada casserole that’s packed with lean chicken, beans, tons of veggies, and brown rice. Throw everything into a casserole dish uncooked and you’ve got yourself dinner for the entire family.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
All the flavors you love in casserole form! Make this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole for an easy and delicious dinner the whole family will love.
Southwestern Chicken Casserole
This Southwestern Chicken Casserole calls for simple, healthy ingredients and gives the classic chicken casserole a run for its money!
Chicken Parmesan Quinoa Casserole
Our protein and veggie-packed healthy chicken parmesan quinoa casserole is a winner for all. It’s made with homemade parmesan chicken, marinara, mushrooms, and quinoa for an epic, kid-friendly chicken parmesan casserole.
Healthy Orange Chicken Casserole
With just a few simple ingredients and a casserole dish you can have a dinner packed with veggies, protein, and whole grains, in just 60 minutes!
Cauliflower Mac and Chicken Casserole
This recipe makes healthy comfort food a real thing! Make this Cauliflower Mac n’ Chicken Casserole with ancient grain pasta for the most epic meal the entire family will love!
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole will change your life! Throw everything in your slow cooker and in only 3 hours dinner is served.
Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowl Casserole
This healthy chicken burrito bowl casserole is made with ground chicken, beans, rice, Mexican spices, and all the topping for a delicious one-pot dinner the entire family will enjoy!
Cashew Chicken Quinoa Bake
Make this Cashew Chicken Quinoa Bake for a high-protein, one-dish meal that the whole family will love! Meal prep at its finest!
Tuscan Chicken Quinoa Bake
This Tuscan Chicken Quinoa Bake is packed with Italian flavors, kid-friendly, and has a whopping 40g protein per serving!
Chicken Cacciatore Casserole
Try this Meal-Prep Chicken Cacciatore Quinoa Bake for dinner this week. It has all of the delicious flavors and ingredients of traditional chicken cacciatore, but with a healthy and quick twist!
Apple Chicken Sausage Quinoa Casserole
This Chicken Apple Sausage Quinoa Casserole is packed with shredded Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes. It is the perfect healthy meal for an easy weeknight dinner or is perfect for meal prep for the week! It is high in protein and delicious!
