Chicken Rice Casserole Without Soup

This easy recipe for chicken rice casserole without soup is made from scratch, without canned soup, and it does taste great. It is also an excellent make-ahead chicken casserole.

This make-ahead chicken and rice casserole is the perfect option for you, particularly if you are looking for an excellent freezer meal.

You can make it from scratch without soup, making it an excellent choice if you want to avoid processed foods.

Plus, it is extremely easy to prepare; all you need to do is just sauté the chicken and sweat the mushrooms and onions. After that, combine the ingredients in a baking dish and bake.

In addition, this casserole freezes well; that way, you can make a batch ahead of time and enjoy it later.

Well, we can say that chicken and rice casserole is an oldie but certainly a goodie. It is considered to be a classic comfort food that is ideal for a cold winter night.

Even though it can be made with canned soup, this version is made from scratch and without any processed ingredients. It is also just as simple to make, and it even tastes better.

Why You’ll Love This Make-Ahead Chicken Rice Casserole Without Soup

A Classic That Never Dies

For years, this dish has been a comfort food that has been around and will continue to be made, given that it is so damn good.

It is simple, refreshing, and can be customized to your liking with whatever veggies you have on hand.

So Easy and So Convenient

It is also an excellent way to use up leftover chicken. This is certainly a great way to use it if you have cooked chicken on hand. Just proceed to shred or chop the chicken and add it to the casserole.

Freezes Well

This casserole freezes amazingly, which makes it an excellent option for meal prep or feeding a large group. You can make it ahead of time and reheat it when you are ready to consume it.

Can be Made Ahead of Time

This casserole is also ideal for meal prep or feeding a large group. So in this case, you can just make it ahead of time, freeze it, and proceed to reheat it when you are ready to eat it.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole Without Soup

This yummy chicken and rice casserole without soup is a family favorite that actually discards the canned soup for a creamy homemade sauce.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Equipment

• Saucepan
• 8-inch square baking dish
• Cutting board
• Chefs knife
• Measuring spoons
• Liquid measuring cup
• Whisky
• Box grater

Ingredients

• 1 pound of cooked chicken
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 cup of onion (diced)
• 2 cups of cooked rice
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 12 to 16 Ritz crackers (crushed)
• 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup of milk
• ¼ cup of flour
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 ½ cups of chicken broth, low sodium preferred
• ½ teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper

Laid-Out Instructions

• First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and then melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion, and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until it becomes softened. Proceed to add the garlic cook for another minute, and make sure you stir frequently. After that, add the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, also stirring frequently, until they become lightly browned.
• That being done, you are to steam the broccoli until it becomes succulent while the onion cooks.
• Afterward, slowly pour in the broth and milk while you whisk constantly, and continue whisking for around a minute. Then, proceed to stir in the salt and pepper, bring it to a simmer, and cook until it becomes thickened, which will take around 3 to 4 minutes.
• When that is done, remove from the heat and add the cooked chicken, rice, broccoli, and cheese, then mix until they are well combined. Also, transfer the casserole mixture to an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish, then top it with the crushed crackers.
• Then, proceed to bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and lightly browned on top. Make sure you allow it to cool for around 5 minutes before you serve.

What to Serve With Creamy Chicken Rice Casserole

I’m sure you will agree that this chicken and rice casserole is more or less a meal-in-one with protein, veggies, and carbs.

However, you will still enjoy it when you serve it with a big green salad, crusty bread, and fruit.

Below are some additional side dishes to pair with this chicken and rice casserole with soup, and they include:

Fruits

If you choose to go simple, just opt for grapes or melon, or in the summer, go with fruit salad with honey-lime vinaigrette and winter fruit salad with honey-lime poppy seed vinaigrette in the fall/winter.

Bread

You can go with garlic parmesan butter breadsticks, soft and fluffy dinner rolls, or garlic bread.

Salad

You have several options, and some include Italian green bean salad, strawberry spinach salad, fall salad, cucumber tomato salad, and apple salad.

How Long Is This Recipe Good For?

You can store your chicken rice casserole in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, but make sure it is tightly covered or placed in a tightly sealed container.

How Do I Reheat Chicken Rice Casserole?

Microwave

You are to first transfer the individual serving to a microwave-safe plate and heat it for 90 seconds, then do it at 30-second intervals as required until it is heated through.

Oven

For this, simply bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes or until it becomes hot and bubbly, and make sure all this is done while it is covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Put Raw Chicken In A Casserole?

You are to give the chicken a quick sear before you add everything else to the casserole, as this will help ensure that they cook through and also give them a nice dark golden brown crust. You also get to add plenty of flavor to this casserole by searing the chicken.

Do I Need To Cover A Casserole In The Oven?

Well, you do need to cover a casserole in the oven, given that the covering helps trap the steak and also helps cook the rice completely and finish the cooking of the chicken.

Simply remove the lid and set the oven to broil. That way, the chicken can get nice and crunchy, and keep in mind that you are to do this in the last couple of minutes.

Do I Cook Rice Before Adding It to Casserole?

Well, no. All you need to do is stir the rice into the soupy broth base and nestle in those browned chickens, then allow your oven to do all the work.

The interpretation of this is that there will be less cleanup for you to do and no cooking of the rice in a separate pan. And, now, that is the beauty of a pot meal.

Conclusion

As previously said, this casserole freezes beautifully, and you can certainly make a double batch and freeze half. You can also freeze the unbaked casserole, but it has to be without the cracker topping, and this will make it last for up to 3 months.

Defrost it in the fridge overnight when you are ready to eat. Also, remove it from the fridge around 30 minutes before you bake it, and then add the topping and bake as instructed. Keep in mind that you might need an additional 10 minutes or so of baking time.

That being said, this concludes this guide, as you now have the perfect recipe for chicken rice casserole without soup.