Cheesy Baked Chicken & Rice Casserole

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 35–40 minutes
Serves: 6

🛒 Ingredients

3 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great)
2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
½ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
½ cup milk
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup cooked bacon bits (optional but delicious)
½ cup chopped green onions
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Salt & pepper to taste

👩‍🍳 Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large bowl, mix chicken, rice, soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Fold in half of the mozzarella and cheddar.
Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Top with remaining cheese and sprinkle bacon bits over the top.
Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.

Let rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Q: Can I use uncooked rice?
A: No — the rice must be cooked first or the texture won’t turn out right.

Q: Can I make this ahead of time?
A: Yes! Assemble, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Add 5–10 minutes to bake time.

Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Absolutely. Wrap tightly and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight before baking.

Q: What vegetables can I add?
A: Broccoli, peas, spinach, or sautéed mushrooms work great.

Q: How do I make it lower carb?
A: Swap rice for cauliflower rice.

Q: Can I use a different protein?
A: Yes! Turkey, ground beef, or even diced ham work well.

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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.