This is the Best Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole we've ever had! It's a semi-homemade, "dump and bake" kind of recipe using canned soups and premade rice mixes. It's perfect for busy weeknights, the rush of the holidays, or just the ease of good, old-fashioned comfort food.
published October 2020, updated July 2022
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If you're looking for a from-scratch Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole, this is not your recipe. But if you're looking for an easy chicken recipe that you can put together in under 15 minutes - I've got your back!
I won't chatter on and on about it though - let me show you how to make it!
The Best Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
You'll need a 3-quart baking dish (like a 9x13 or 10x14) for this recipe and here are the ingredients:
- 2 Knorr Rice Sides, Cheddar and Broccoli Flavor, 5.5 oz size
- Cream of Chicken soup (1 can)
- Cream of Mushroom soup (1 can)
- 1 cup of Water
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- ½ a tablespoon of Seasoned Salt (you can use less if you wish)
- Pepper for taste
- 1 teaspoon of Basil (optional)
- ½ a tablespoon of Garlic Salt
- 1 can of Nacho or Cheddar Cheese Soup
Once you have all of your ingredients (or substitutions... keep reading down below for some ideas), you're ready to put it together.
Start by emptying both rice packages into a casserole dish.
Add in cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and water.
Whisk together until well combined.
Place chicken breasts on top.
Cover chicken and rice in all seasonings, and rub into chicken.
Spoon the cheese soup on top of the chicken and smooth out evenly. Then you're ready to bake!
Cover the casserole dish tightly in foil and bake at 350 degrees for an hour and 45 minutes.
If you'd like it a little browned on top, remove the foil and place the dish under your broiler for 3-5 minutes. Watch it closely!!
Serve with your favorite side(s) and enjoy!! If you like this recipe... you might like some others I have shared:
- Broccoli, Rice & Cheese Casserole
- Hawaiian Rice Salad (Cold Brown Rice Salad with Chicken & Pineapple)
- Broccoli Cheese Cornbread
- Baked Pork Chops & Rice
- Easy Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
- Crock Pot Beef & Veggies Over Rice
- German Cucumber Salad
Substitutions in Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
- While we love the Knorr brand, there are other brands of pre-made rice mixes that you could use for this recipe and to change up the flavors!
- If you don't have (or don't like) one of the cream soups - use all of one flavor. Such as, use all cream of chicken and no cream of mushroom or vice-versa.
- We sometimes use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts. They work great and my family loves those as well.
- The seasonings are very versatile. I keep things simple with Seasoned Salt but you can add any seasoning you like or a mix of them. Some of our favorites are basil, garlic and onion powders, cumin, and/or paprika.
- Want veggies? You could easily add in 2 cups of chopped fresh broccoli!
Are you ready for the recipe?
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PrintRecipe
The Best Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 6
Description
This is the Best Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole we've ever had! It's a semi-homemade, "dump and bake" kind of recipe using canned soups and premade rice mixes. It's perfect for busy weeknights, the rush of the holidays, or just the ease of good, old-fashioned comfort food.
Ingredients
2 Knorr Rice Sides, Cheddar and Broccoli Flavor (5.5 oz size)
1 can of Cream of Chicken soup
1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 cup of water
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
½ a tablespoon of Seasoned Salt (you can use less if you wish)
Pepper for taste
1 teaspoon of basil (optional)
½ a tablespoon of Garlic Salt
1 can of Campbells Nacho or Cheddar Cheese soup
Instructions
1. Start by emptying both rice packages into a casserole dish.
2. Add in cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and water.
3. Whisk together until well combined.
4. Place chicken breasts on top.
5. Cover chicken and rice in all seasonings, and rub into chicken.
6. Add cheese soup on top of chicken and smooth out evenly.
7. Cover casserole dish tightly in foil.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
9. Serve and Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 105
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheesy, chicken, rice, cheesy chicken and rice, knorr, semi-homemade, dump, casserole
Diana M Cluck
Excellent! Substituted shredded mozzarella, cheddar for the cheddar soup, and chicken broth for water. Used 1 1/2 cup of broth. I let cook for 5 more minutes when done, uncovered.
★★★★★
Luna Regina
Great! I love to add carrots to mine for extra color and vibrancy and a fun crunch!
★★★★
Sarah G.
This is going to be a staple in our house! Especially since you can buy the Knorr rice packets and chicken condensed soup in bulk at Sam's! I didn't add the cheese soup on top- just left it plain (with the seasonings). I also cut my chicken breasts into smaller pieces. I cooked it for 40 mins with the last 10 being uncovered. Perfect! Added a side of steamed broccoli.
Rose
Great idea! So happy you enjoyed it!
chicken
oh my this looks so delicious, will try this tonight!
★★★★★
Lynne
I love this recipe. I also used chicken stock instead of water, added some fresh pimentos and broccoli. The last 5 minutes I added freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and 1/4 cup panko. Delish!!!
★★★★★
Rose Atwater
I'm so happy to hear it - I love your changes!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
I love cheesy rice!! Looks great! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Have a fabulous week.
Laura
What size for the Knorr rice? They have 2 sizes available - 5.5 oz & 11 oz.
Rose Atwater
Oh, so sorry about that! I use the 5.5 oz. size. I'll update the post 🙂
Cheryl
In the article you say to bake it for 1 hr and 45 min but in the condensed recipe below you list the bake time as 90 min. Mine is currently in the oven and I pounded my chicken breasts down so expect it will be done closer to 90 min but I wondered how long you meant for it to bake.
Rose Atwater
It should be 1:40 - 1:45. The plugin that I use for my recipe cards sometimes messes up number calculations.
Becky
I love this recipe, but am wondering if/how the sodium content could be significantly reduced without losing the integrity of the original recipe. Do you have any ideas?
★★★★★
Kristy
Have you ever done this in an instant pot?
Rose Atwater
Sorry - I have not!
Esmé Slabbert
Oh wow, that cheesy rice with the chicken is so mouthwatering looking, so pinned it as I have to try this out.
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★★★★★