Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
This gluten-free Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole is a classic comfort food! Super easy and perfect for those picky eaters!
I firmly believe in the power of food. I believe food has the ability to change your mood, nourish both mind and body, lift your spirits, evoke memories, and soothe your soul.
We even display our emotions through food. For example, when I make mashed potatoes it is almost always because I am homesick. I miss my Mom, so I make her mashed potatoes. It makes me feel better. Or like the way Mr. Maebell cannot taste chocolate pie without thinking of his Grandmother. Food isn’t just the components of a meal, it is part of our story.
I am sharing Cheesy Chicken and Rice with you today. Yes, this is comfort food, it is great and simple, but this dish means so much more to me than that. Nearly five years ago, Mr. Maebell and I had just moved into our current home. We were two broke college kids that never had much except a dinner table that was always full.
At that point in time, our meals were almost always a protein, rice, and a vegetable. Remember, Mr. Maebell was diagnosed with Celiac disease over 7 years ago, so after trying a lot of gluten-free alternatives that were awful we just stuck with the basics.
One night I made this, kind of on a whim, just trying something new. I shredded the chicken, cooked the rice, made a homemade cream of chicken soup, threw in some sour cream and cheese and hoped for the best. That sweet man took one bite and the smile on his face just grew wider and wider. I will never forget that. Something so very simple, just a meal, a basic gluten-free casserole that nearly everyone else in this world would take for granted but for him, we had struck gold.
That is the power of food.
So, tonight as you rush home to make dinner for your loved ones just remember it isn’t just dinner. It might be the meal your kids crave when they are homesick or it could be the meal they feed to their kids someday. It could be the meal that becomes part of their story.
Ingredients in Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
To make this easy chicken and rice casserole from scratch, you’ll need the following:
- Cooked, shredded chicken
- Uncooked rice
- Chicken broth
- Sour cream
- Spices (garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper)
- Butter
- Flour or Bisquick
- Shredded cheddar cheese
How to Make Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake
- Add rice and broth to a saucepan and cook until done.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, rice, spices, and sour cream. set aside.
- In the same small saucepan you used for the rice, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
- Add in the flour or Bisquick and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in additional broth, then let simmer until thickened.
- When thickened, pour the cream of soup into the mixing bowl with the remaining ingredients.
- Stir in 1/2 cup cheese, then turn into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with more cheese before baking.
Can I Prep Cheesy Chicken Casserole in Advance?
Yes! Prepare the chicken and rice casserole as the recipe instructs, but refrigerate instead of baking. I also recommend waiting to sprinkle the cheese on top until you’re ready to bake.
Can I Add Veggies to This Gluten-Free Casserole?
Yes! I’ve made this cheesy chicken and rice bake with a frozen bag of mixed veggies as well as a broccoli cheese version, and both were excellent. I think this is a super versatile recipe that will work for just about any veggie/cheese combo you want to try!
Tips for Making Cheesy Rice Casserole
- I use my small crockpot to cook my chicken. I just put it on low before work and they are done when I get home. Alternatively, you can bake it at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes covered. When chicken is cooked, shred and set aside.
- If you have a stand mixer, shred your chicken with the paddle attachment. It makes life so much easier!
- As always, I made this chicken and rice casserole from scratch using gluten-free ingredients. I use Glutino Gluten Free Pantry All Purpose Flour or Gluten Free Bisquick in place of regular flour.
More Gluten-Free Casserole Recipes:
- Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Rice
- Loaded Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Casserole
- Taco Zoodle Casserole
- One-Pan Cabbage Casserole
- Tuna Zoodle Casserole
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast, shredded (3-4 cups)*
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour or Bisquick, I use gluten free Bisquick
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a small saucepan bring two cups of chicken broth to a boil, pour in rice, simmer on low until all liquid is absorbed.
- In a large mixing bowl combine shredded chicken, rice, spices and sour cream together, set aside.
- In the same small saucepan you used for the rice, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
- When it is completely melted and bubbling, add 2 tablespoons of flour, stir mixture and let it simmer for about 1 minute, stirring occasionally.
- Slowly pour last cup of chicken broth into the flour mixture, stirring as you go.
- Let your cream of soup simmer for a couple minutes until the mixture thickens. This usually takes me 3-5 minutes.
- When mixture is thick pour it into the mixing bowl with the rest of your ingredients.
- Add in 1/2 cup cheese, stir well and pour into greased baking dish.
- Top with remaining cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Notes
Had this for supper last night…all 4 of us loved it! 🙂 The leftovers were good today for lunch, too! Yummy!
Yay!! I am so glad!!
Great casserole. My entire family loved it?
I totally agree about the power of food! Homemade chicken noodle soup and pot roast always reminds me of my Grandma. I can never make my dishes quite as good as hers, and that’s ok. Love this casserole, Annie! Sounds like the perfect comfort food, especially for the cold weather!
For me it is my Mom’s Mashed Potatoes! 🙂 Thanks Gayle!
This is serious comfort food! I love the creaminess factor here 🙂
Thank you Medha!
I miss my grandma so I make her special rice all the time — it always makes me feel like she’s here. 🙂 Such a nice post, Annie, and this meal looks so cheesy and delicious! I’m a huge rice fan, and I love the sound of this casserole!
I love foods that have those special meanings to them! Thanks Marcie! 🙂
Ahh…I love this! It’s one of those classic, simple, and delicious comfort food meals that EVERYONE loves! My kids would devour this one. 🙂 Sharing!
Thanks Blair! I just know they will love it!
Ah love that story! I couldn’t agree more. The power of food is incredible; that is the one thing I love to shower people with. And this casserole? Reminds me of a dish my mom made when I was younger but love how you made it healthier. Definitely adding to our menu soon!
Isn’t it amazing? I just love how a single dish can make you feel all the feelings! 🙂
Wow, this cheesy goodness is calling my name! I love making casseroles for dinner and this meal is the perfect comfort food.
Thanks Ashley! You can’t beat a good cheesy casserole!
This looks like some delicious comfort food, Annie, and I love the story that accompanies the dish! The power of food is one of the best things about it – recipes with stories are the best kind!
Ooh, what a delicious-looking casserole, Annie! And I love how it came about!
Wish I had this for dinner tonight – it’s freezing cold here!
This casserole looks so incredibly cheesy and creamy!
This looks so great!!! Casseroles are the best -so homey!
OMG, I grew up on cheesy chicken and rice casserole! I haven’t had it in FOREVER! Yours looks perfect, and to be honest, about a million times better than my mothers from what I can remember. (<– don't tell her I said that!!) I use to love this casserole growing up! Can't wait to try yours and walk down memory lane! Cheers, girl!
This is such a sweet post, Annie! So many of my memories involve making or sharing food with loved ones, and I hope that it is the same for my kids. This casserole looks like such a comforting and delicious dinner!
Nice recipe and presentation is awesome, I will definitely try
This sounds amazing and I will give it a try but just a heads up if you plan on making this gluten free most chicken broth is not gluten free.
Hi Samantha, we always use gluten free chicken broth.
Can this be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated then cooked later?
Hi Tonya! Yes! I just wait to add the additional cheese on top until I am ready to cook. 🙂
I guess I am a few years late to this party but I just wanted to say THANK YOU for this recipe! I have been searching forever for a cheesy chicken and rice recipe that did not call for canned cream of anything. This totally fits the bill and oh my, it was amazing!
Hi Ashley! I am so glad! This is such a favorite in our house, it is true comfort food!! 🙂
So I’m very new and uneducated to gluten free food. But I came across your recipe while looking for a dinner to make for a friend who can’t have gluten. What ingredients do I need to substitute for gluten free? I saw the chicken broth and flour, right? Anything else?
Hi Eileen! Yes, just the chicken broth and the flour! I prefer Gluten Free Bisquick, it thickens so easily and doesn’t clump and there are several GF broths available now but I normally buy Kitchen Basics, Pacific, or Swanson if I can find the GF version. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this – I’ve been trying to find an easy gluten free chicken and rice casserole. Have you tried adding carrots to it? Or broccoli?
Hi Kate! Yes! I’ve made this with a frozen bag of mixed veggies as well as a broccoli cheese version, both were excellent! I think this is a super versatile recipe that will work for just about any veggie/cheese combo you want to try! 🙂
The recipe calls for 2 cups of shredded cheese. However, I only see the cheese mentioned once within the recipe, and it calls for adding 1/2 cup of cheese! Which is it?
You stir in the 1/2 cup of cheese, then the recipe says to add the remaining cheese on the top of the casserole just before baking.