Rotisserie Chicken and Rice Casserole

Rotisserie Chicken and Rice Casserole is an incredibly easy and delicious dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights! Comfort food FAST! This easy casserole is made with rotisserie chicken, rice, almonds, celery and more! A family favorite that I’ve been making for decades! Love casseroles? Makes sure to try my Tater Tot Casserole and Tuna Casserole with Noodles!

Chicken and Rice Casserole

One of my all-time favorite comfort meals is Chicken and Rice Casserole. I have been making this easy dinner since I was about 10 years old. My husband thought he didn’t like casseroles… BUT he eats this one up and LOVES it. He always wants the leftovers for lunch the next day 🙂

The boys clean their plates every single time and the great thing is – it’s SOO easy! I have modified this recipe over the years cutting down on the mayo and using a rotisserie chicken to save time. (I also have a chicken broccoli casserole recipe on my site that is based off of this recipe.)

We usually use corn flakes for the topping but seasoned bread crumbs, Ritz crackers, French Fried Onions, potato chips and panko can also be used. See below for lots of options. There are tons of comments on this post with great suggestions for customizing this easy chicken rice casserole.

This recipe is also great for using up leftover rice and chicken and can be assembled ahead of time. Pop it in the oven when you get home!

This delicious and easy chicken casserole recipe is one of several that inspired my new book 100 Creative Ways to Use Rotisserie Chicken in Everyday Meals.

Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes

We love cooking with rotisserie chicken and particularly love it for chicken casseroles. Make sure to try these favorites:

1. Hawaiian Chicken and Rice Casserole
2. Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
3. Easy Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole

What Ingredients Are In Chicken and Rice Casserole?

Every chicken and rice casserole recipe is going to be a little different and that’s what makes casseroles so fun – they are so easy to customize!

This version has the following ingredients:

• rotisserie chicken – you can use any cooked chicken
• rice – brown or white rice works, just make sure you cook it beforehand. I’ve also had readers that substituted in cooked noodles for the rice and it turned out great.
• sliced almonds – some people like to use slivered almonds or a different nut altogether. You can also omit entirely if you prefer.
• celery – I love the crunch that celery adds but any veggie will work here.
• cream of chicken soup – any cream soup will work: mushroom, celery, etc. I use the “healthy” version and/or low sodium if I can find it.
• mayonnaise – lots of readers sub in greek yogurt or sour cream or a combination. Just make sure you have a total of half a cup. The greek yogurt is a great way to make this a healthy chicken casserole.
• seasoning – salt and pepper to taste and any other seasoning you like. Garlic powder and onion powder are reader favorites.

Casserole Variations

You can see from the ingredients list above how many different ways there are to customize this casserole. You could make it a different way every week for the entire year and never have the same casserole twice lol!

One of the most delicious ways to customize this casserole is with the topping. Here are some toppings to consider:

1. Ritz Crackers – treat this ingredient the same way you would the cornflakes (other crackers works as well). Chicken casserole with ritz crackers is a favorite around here!
2. Breadcrumbs – you could use plain or flavored bread crumbs. Mix with 3 tablespoons of butter before sprinkling over the top.
3. Cornflakes + Shredded Cheese – use any kind of cheese you like.
4. Potato Chips –  use your favorite to add flavor and crunch
5. French Fried Onions – a reader favorite, this adds both crunch and flavor to the casserole – so good!
6. Panko – just make to toss this with plenty of butter and seasoning. Paprika and garlic powder and delicious!

Chicken Casserole Tips

• Mix up the ingredients right in the baking dish. When I’m trying to save time, I don’t mess around 🙂
• Pour cornflakes into a bag and crush away. They don’t have to be crushed to dust or anything – just break them down into smaller pieces.
• Sprinkle the cornflakes over the top of the casserole. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Mo’ cornflakes, mo’ bettah. My boys love the crunch!
• The recipe can be doubled – make sure to use a 9×13 baking dish.
• This casserole can be frozen. Add the topping just before baking.

My family asks for this casserole at least once a week. I’m not even exaggerating here. It’s just so easy and leftovers are amazing the next day! Do give it a try!

More Easy Casseroles To Try

1. The BEST Tater Tot Casserole
2. The Best Tuna Casserole with Noodles
3. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
4. Loaded BBQ Pork Potato Casserole
5. Easy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

How To Make Chicken and Rice Casserole

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Rotisserie Chicken and Rice Casserole

Rotisserie Chicken and Rice Casserole is an incredibly easy and delicious dinner that is perfect for busy weeknights! This easy casserole is made with rotisserie chicken, rice and almonds, celery and more! A family favorite that I've been making for decades!

Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword chicken and rice casserole

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 402kcal

Author Trish - Mom On Timeout

Ingredients

• 3 cups diced rotisserie chicken or any other cooked chicken
• 10.5 oz cream of chicken soup can use low-sodium or Healthy Request; other cream soups can be used
• 3 cups cooked rice
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds or slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
• 3/4 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup crushed corn flakes see post for more topping ideas
• 2 tbsp butter melted
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine all ingredients into a greased 9x13 baking dish. I use a 9x13 because we like extra room for our corn flakes {more crunch!} but this recipe will fit into an 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.
• Mix up the ingredients right in the baking dish.
• Pour cornflakes into a bag and crush away. They don't have to be crushed to dust or anything - just break them down into smaller pieces.
• Sprinkle the cornflakes over the top of the casserole.
• Drizzle melted butter over the top.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until casserole is heated through.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 402kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 639mg | Potassium: 258mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 5mg

Originally published September 20, 2012.

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