I don’t know about you, but I love a classic dump-and-bake casserole. Besides being ultra comforting, all-in-one casserole recipes are ideal for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. Plus, mixing all the ingredients directly in the casserole dish means fewer dirty dishes to wash. Win, win!

This cheesy chicken and rice casserole is precisely one of those recipes. It’s made with just seven ingredients, including condensed cream soup, instant rice and precooked chicken, so it’s a cinch to throw together and takes less than 30 minutes to bake to bubbly perfection. Each bite is full of tender white meat chicken and rice smothered in a creamy sauce. Top it all with melty cheddar cheese for a hearty, family-favorite dinner.

Chicken and Rice Casserole Ingredients

• Canned soup: Condensed canned soup is the secret to making rich, creamy casseroles. We use cream of chicken and mushroom soups in this casserole to create a flavorful sauce that binds everything together.
• Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds extra moisture that the rice absorbs while cooking. This recipe calls for reduced-sodium broth since the canned soups and onion soup mix contain sodium. You could also use an equal amount of vegetable broth or water.
• Rice: This recipe uses instant white rice because it cooks fast and keeps the total baking time under 30 minutes.
• Cooked chicken breast: Using precooked chicken is a timesaving hack. Shredded rotisserie chicken is one of our favorite easy-dinner shortcuts and will add a unique roasted chicken flavor to the dish. You can also use pieces of leftover chicken, like baked or grilled breasts, if they’re mildly seasoned.
• Onion soup mix: A packet of onion soup mix is a no-fuss trick for seasoning casseroles, soups, slow-cooker recipes and more. The soup mix contains a blend of dried spices that adds savory flavor without a single measuring spoon.
• Cheddar cheese: A layer of shredded cheddar covers the top of the casserole for cheesy flavor and an irresistible melty topping. Pre-shredded cheese is convenient, but it contains ingredients to prevent clumping that can interfere with how well the cheese melts. Grab a block of cheddar and grate your own cheese for extra-smooth melting.

Taste of Home