Crock Pot Chicken And Rice Casserole – An Easy Recipe To Feed The Family

When it comes to easy and delicious recipes that the entire family will love, it doesn’t get much better than this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole. Creamy, cheesy chicken and rice that takes 10 minutes to prepare and is ready to eat whenever you are!

It is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe because everything gets put in the slow cooker in the morning. Then when you get home you stir in the cheese and dinner is ready to be served.

It is one of those recipes that gets requested in my house frequently. And one that I am more than happy to make because it is so easy to prepare!

In fact, I have to admit that I make some version of this recipe pretty much every week. However sometimes I will add in a few extra ingredients, depending on what I have on hand in the kitchen.

It truly is a versatile recipe and one that I turn to time and time again.

Ingredients Required

• Chicken Breasts – You will need 2 large chicken breasts for this Crock Pot Chicken and Rice Casserole. However before the chicken goes in the slow cooker, be sure to dice the meat into bite size pieces.
• Minced Garlic – Because both chicken and rice are bland in nature, minced garlic is used for added flavor. Fresh garlic cloves will give you the most flavor, but you can use jarred minced garlic if that is all you have on hand.
• Salt and Pepper – Season your dish with salt and pepper to taste.
• Onion – Diced white, yellow or red onion is used to add sweet and slightly pungent taste to the dish.
• Chicken Broth – In order for the rice to cook and become tender, chicken broth is used as the liquid. For best results use low-sodium chicken broth so the meal doesn’t turn out too salty.

• Cream of Chicken Soup – The creaminess comes from a can of condensed cream of chicken soup. You can always make your own if you don’t like to use store-bought versions.
• Brown Rice – It is best to use brown rice for this recipe as it holds up to the long cooking process. I have tried this with white rice and it gets overcooked and extremely mushy.
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Once the chicken and rice cook, shredded cheese is added to make the dish even more delicious.

How To Make Chicken and Rice Casserole In A Crock Pot

1. Start by cutting the chicken breasts into small, bite size pieces. Then place the pieces in the slow cooker.

2. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, onions, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup and uncooked brown rice in with the chicken. Then stir to combine all the ingredients. Once you stir be sure that the rice is submerged in the liquid.

3. Cover the crock pot and cook on high power for 3 1⁄2 – 4 hours or until all the broth in the crock pot is absorbed by the rice. If you have a programmable crock pot set it for 3 1⁄2 hours as the rice will continue to absorb the liquid when it switches to the keep warm setting.

4. Once the initial cook time is up, stir in the shredded cheddar cheese. Place the cover back on and continue to heat until the cheese melts. This will only take a few minutes.

5. Serve warm.

Common Recipe Substitutions

Although this crock pot chicken and rice casserole is delicious as written, there are some substitutions and variations that you can use depending on what ingredients that you have in your kitchen. Below I have listed different ways you can adapt the recipe based on your needs and taste preferences.

Chicken – Use boneless, skinless diced chicken thighs in place of the chicken breast. They will require a slightly longer cook time, but they will add more flavor to the dish.

Garlic – In place of the 2 garlic cloves use 1 teaspoon jarred minced garlic or 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder.

Rice – If you want to make this dish with white rice, you will need to decrease the liquid by 1⁄2 cup and add the long grain white rice in after the chicken has been cooking for 1 hour.

Chicken Broth – You can use chicken stock, vegetable stock or chicken broth granules soaked in water for this recipe. Just be sure to low-sodium stock so you can adjust the amount of salt to your preference.

Canned Soup – Instead of cream of chicken soup, use cream of mushroom, cream of celery or cream of cheddar soup.

Vegetables – This recipe calls for onions, however you can add other vegetables for taste, texture and color. Common fresh vegetables to add at the beginning of the cooking process: diced carrots, celery, bell peppers and mushrooms. However if you prefer to use frozen vegetables add them during the last hour of cooking so they don’t become too soft.

What To Serve With Crock Pot Chicken And Rice Casserole

Although you can eat this dish as a stand alone meal, you may want to stretch it further and serve it with some side dishes. Here are some ideas that pair well with creamy chicken and rice:

1. Steamed Vegetables:
   • Steamed broccoli
   • Green beans
   • Asparagus
2. Salads:
   • A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette or ranch dressing
   • Caesar salad
3. Roasted Vegetables:
   • Brussels sprouts
   • Carrots
   • Diced sweet potatoes

Crock Pot Chicken And Rice Casserole Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1⁄2 onion chopped
• 3 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 oz can), low-sodium
• 1 1⁄2 cup brown rice (uncooked)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups finely shredded cheddar cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

Start by dicing the chicken breasts into small, bite size pieces. Then place the chicken in the crock pot.

Add the minced garlic, onion, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, brown rice, salt and pepper in the crock pot with the chicken.Then stir to combine all the ingredients. Be sure that the rice grains are submerged in the liquid.

Cover and cook on HIGH power for 3 1⁄2 – 4 hours or until the rice has absorbed all of the liquid.

Add the shredded sharp cheddar cheese and stir to combine. Place the cover back on the crock pot to let the cheese melt, approximately 5 minutes.

Serve the chicken and rice casserole warm, directly out of the crock pot.

For Instant Pot Instructions use this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Recipe.

Enjoy! Mary

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