Chicken and rice casserole is such a classic American dish. Thankfully it’s not complicated and is very family-friendly. This chicken and rice uses no cream of chicken soup and is delicious.
It’s funny how some dishes can send you straight back to your childhood. This meal does just that for me. Every time I make it, I am ten years old again in my momma’s kitchen, savoring every bite of this simple dish of chicken and rice. Food has a way of speaking to my heart, connecting my past to my present, and remembering the love that my parents had for me, and the love that I want to pass down to my own kids.
Food can do all that? Well, it does for me.
Many signature dishes of my grandma’s and my mom’s are the tried and true recipes that I still use in my kitchen today. Each time I craft one of these recipes in my own kitchen, it’s like I’m taking part in the traditions of the many wonderful women who have gone before me, nourishing their own families.
Isn’t that a beautiful picture? I hope my children continue down the path of home cooked meals, using the same recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in our family.
This chicken and rice is tasty and total comfort food. You will love it, I can almost guarantee.
Chicken and rice casserole step by step
Season your chicken liberally with sea salt and pepper.
Melt butter in a large skillet.
Quickly brown both sides of chicken. You don’t want to cook them all the way through.
Transfer them to a plate. See how they are still raw? That’s what you want.
Saute some chopped onions.
Pour in some delicious mineral rich homemade chicken stock.
Season it up with some herbs, salt and pepper.
Stir in the rice and bring to a bubble.
Pour the rice mixture in a 9×13 casserole dish, top with chicken, and spoon some of the liquid on top of the chicken. Cover and bake.
Serve with some simple vegetables like roasted broccoli or asparagus and stuff your face!

Chicken and rice
Simple chicken and rice casserole that will send you back to your childhood. Made with real ingredients and no cream of chicken soup.
Ingredients
- 2 T. butter
- 4-6 chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup onions chopped
- 2 cups broth
- 1 cup cream
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1 T. parsley
- 1 1/2 cup organic white rice
Instructions
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Season chicken liberally with salt and pepper.
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Melt butter in a skillet over medium high heat.
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Quickly brown both sides of chicken, taking care not to cook all the way through.
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Tranfer chicken to a plate to rest.
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In the same skillet, add onions and sautee until tender.
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Add broth, cream, salt, pepper, and herbs. Bring to a bubble.
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Add rice and transfer to a 9x13 casserole dish.
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Top with chicken and spoon some liquid onto chicken.
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Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until rice is tender and chicken is cooked through.
Looking for more comfort food recipes? Try any of these!
- Slow cooker beef stroganoff
- Slow cooker roast beef, potatoes, and carrots
- Chicken and biscuit pot pie
- Cheeseburger pie
Recently made this. I had to change a few things based on what I had but basically was true to the recipe. It was so simple and delicious. I will be making this one again.
[…] I’m in the mood for true comfort food, I go back to recipes from my childhood. Chicken and rice, Italian beef, and pinto beans are all contenders for the prize of childhood favorites, but at the […]