Description
Creamy cheesy angel chicken and rice casserole brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Layers of tender chicken, melted cheese, and fluffy rice create a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
Grains and Base:
- 1 1/2 cups (354 ml) uncooked long-grain white rice
- 3 cups (710 ml) chicken broth
Cheese and Sauce Components:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 (10.5 ounces / 298 grams) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the baking vessel by lightly greasing a 9×13-inch casserole dish and heating the oven to 375F (190C).
- Create a base layer by spreading uncooked rice evenly across the bottom of the dish, then gently pour chicken broth over the rice.
- Arrange seasoned chicken breasts directly on top of the rice, ensuring even distribution of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Develop the creamy sauce by sautéing onions in melted butter until translucent, approximately 3-5 minutes. Introduce minced garlic and cook briefly.
- Incorporate cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, and Italian seasoning into the skillet, stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Fold in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, continuing to stir until completely melted and the sauce reaches a creamy consistency.
- Carefully pour the cheese sauce over the chicken and rice, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Seal the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until rice becomes tender and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F (75C).
- Remove foil, sprinkle additional cheddar cheese on top, and return to the oven for 5-10 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, then garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve immediately alongside a crisp salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Opt for long-grain white rice to ensure even cooking and perfect texture in the casserole.
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts for quick and consistent cooking throughout the dish.
- Swap cream of chicken soup with homemade white sauce for a healthier, less processed alternative.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like pepper jack or monterey jack for added flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg