Southern Soul Food Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken and rice baked with cream of chicken soup and cheese into a simple, comforting Southern casserole.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Instructions
6 steps- 1
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C) and grease a baking dish.
- 2
In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked rice, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and chicken broth, stirring until well mixed.
- 3
Fold in half of the shredded cheddar and season with salt and pepper.
- 4
Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cheddar and a scatter of breadcrumbs.
- 5
Bake until bubbling and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes.
- 6
Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
77/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving890
Calories
73 g
Protein
56 g
Carbs
42 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Chicken and rice casserole is a Southern weeknight and church-supper staple built on the pantry convenience of canned cream of chicken soup, which became a casserole cornerstone after Campbell's promoted such dishes in the mid-20th century. It is the kind of warm, one-dish comfort food assembled from things already on the shelf and meant to feed a crowd cheaply.
Listahan note
This version starts with already-cooked chicken and rice and uses the cream of chicken soup as the binding sauce, so the bake is really about melting the cheese and marrying flavors rather than cooking raw components from scratch.
Technique cues
- Use fully cooked rice and chicken before mixing, since the casserole bakes only long enough to heat through and melt the cheese, not to cook grains or meat.
- Thin the condensed soup with a little broth or milk before folding it in, so the casserole stays creamy instead of pasty after baking.
- Add the cheese as a top layer rather than mixing it all in, so it browns into a bubbling, golden crust.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Shred the chicken and loosen the soup while the rice finishes cooking, so the mix-and-layer goes fast.
- Make-ahead
- Assemble the whole casserole a day ahead, refrigerate, and bake straight from the fridge with a few extra minutes.
- Leftover move
- Scoop leftovers into a tortilla with hot sauce for a quick creamy chicken-and-rice wrap.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Mix everything in the baking dish itself to skip a separate bowl, then soak the cheese-crusted dish right away.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
Chicken
Main protein
Purpose: Shredded cooked chicken is the substance of the casserole and soaks up the creamy soup.
Handling: Pull or cube already-cooked chicken so it folds evenly through the rice.
Adaptation: Rotisserie chicken is the easy choice and adds extra seasoning.
Rice
Starch base
Purpose: Cooked rice carries the sauce and gives the dish its body and bulk.
Handling: Use rice that is fully cooked but slightly firm so it does not turn to mush in the oven.
Adaptation: Cooked long-grain or brown rice both work; brown adds chew and a nuttier flavor.
Cream of chicken soup
Binding sauce
Purpose: Condensed soup is the creamy glue that holds the casserole together and seasons it.
Handling: Loosen it with broth or milk so it coats rather than clumps.
Adaptation: A quick homemade roux-and-broth bechamel replaces the can with cleaner flavor and less sodium.
Cheese
Topping
Purpose: Melted cheese forms the browned, savory crust that makes the casserole feel finished.
Handling: Grate it fresh and scatter it over the top in the last stretch of baking.
Adaptation: Sharp cheddar browns and tastes best; Monterey Jack melts smoother and milder.
Technique notes
- Cover the dish for most of the bake and uncover only at the end so the inside stays creamy while the cheese browns.
- A scatter of crushed crackers or fried onions under the cheese adds a crunchy contrast to the soft interior.
- Season the mixture before baking, tasting it cold; the soup is salty but the rice and chicken dilute it.
Ingredient swaps
- Lower-sodium direction
- Replace the canned soup with a homemade bechamel from unsalted broth and milk, controlling the salt yourself.
- From-scratch direction
- Build a quick roux-based cream sauce instead of the can for fresher flavor and no preservatives.
- Veggie-boost direction
- Fold in cooked broccoli or peas before baking for color and a vegetable serving.
Serve alongside
- Steamed green beans
- Buttermilk biscuits
- Garden salad
- Glazed carrots
- Iced sweet tea
- Lemonade
- Crisp white wine
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
- Reheat covered in the oven or in the microwave with a splash of broth to loosen the rice.
- Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Equipment
- Baking dish
- Box grater
- Mixing spoon
- Aluminum foil for covering
Make this household-aware
Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.
Plan it in Listahan
Add Chicken and Rice Casserole to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.
More Southern Soul Food recipes
Southern Soul Food Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Caramel Cake
A tender Southern layer cake blanketed in glossy, old-fashioned cooked caramel frosting that sets to a fudgy finish.
Southern Soul Food Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Sweet Tea
Quench your thirst with a frosty glass of authentic Southern sweet tea, perfectly brewed for smoothness and sweetness. Nothing cools down a hot summer day quite like it.
Southern Soul Food Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Smothered Pork Chops
Feast on pan-seared pork chops braised to fork-tender perfection, completely enveloped in a deeply caramelized, savory onion gravy. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes for maximum comfort.