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    Home | Main Dishes

    Cheesy Chicken Casserole Recipe

    Dated: October 9, 2019 Last Modified: November 15, 2021 by Sarah Mock Leave a Comment. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links.

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    Cheesy chicken casserole is an easy casserole made of shredded or diced chicken, and simple homemade cheese sauce, rice and your choice of vegetables.
    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Cheesy Chicken Casserole Recipe

    Cheesy chicken casserole is an easy casserole made of shredded or diced chicken, and simple homemade cheese sauce, rice and your choice of vegetables. Baked until bubbly it is topped with more cheese and buttery cracker crumbs. 

    This recipe does not have condensed cream of chicken soup but the cheesy, creamy sauce is so easy you will never miss the can of soup. 

    Quick! Before you forget, click here to save this recipe to Pinterest.

    🥫 Ingredients needed:

    • butter
    • flour
    • onion, diced
    • garlic, minced
    • milk
    • cheddar cheese shredded, divided
    • cream cheese
    • rice, cooked
    • chicken, cooked, diced or shredded or sous vide chicken
    • buttery crackers 
    • Salt and pepper
    • ranch dressing powder (optional)
    • parsley (optional)

    Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

    📝 Notes on the ingredients

    Another version of this recipe has broccoli as a vegetable. I am not a huge fan of broccoli so I substituted in peas. Other vegetable options could be:

    • Green beans
    • Lima beans
    • Mixed Vegetables
    • Cauliflower florets
    • Corn kernels 
    • Chopped fresh spinach

    How do you make cheesy chicken casserole?

    top down image of cheesy chicken casserole
    1. Preheat the oven.
    2. Coat a pan with cooking spray.
    3. Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
    4. Add the onion and cook.
    5. Add the flour to the pot to make a roux.
    whisking cream sauce for cheesy chicken casserole
    1. Slowly whisk the milk into the pan.
    2. Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce has thickened (coats the back of a spoon).
    adding cheese to the cheesy chicken casserole sauce
    1. Add the cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese and the salt, pepper to the sauce.
    2. Lower the heat and stir until smooth.
    cheesy chicken casserole ingredients in a bowl
    1. Combine the rice, chicken, and peas (or other vegetables) in a large bowl.
    adding cheese sauce to the meat and vegetables for cheesy chicken casserole
    1. Pour the sauce over the top.
    2. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
    unbaked cheesy chicken casserole in a glass dish
    1. Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese, crushed crackers and if using, the ranch dressing powder over the top.
    2. Bake for until casserole is bubbly, the topping is browned and cheese is melted.

    ☝️ Top Tip

    • If you don't have fresh garlic substitute in ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • The crackers I use are the Ritz crackers but any butter cracker will work, coarsely crushed (24 crackers or ¾ of a sleeve)
    • To help keep the sauce from becoming lumpy, I warm the milk in the microwave first.
    • Cook multiple chicken breasts at the beginning of the week and use them in this and other recipes throughout the week.

    Other recipes that use shredded or diced chicken:

    • Dorito chicken casserole
    • Sour cream chicken enchiladas
    • Buffalo chicken dip egg rolls
    • Chicken casserole recipes

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    Cheesy Chicken Casserole Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken Casserole

    Sarah Mock
    Cheesy chicken casserole is an easy casserole made of shredded or diced chicken, and simple homemade cheese sauce, rice and your choice of vegetables.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Note From Sarah

    There is more to a recipe than just the recipe card. Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!

    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Prevent your screen from going dark, toggle to button to the right to turn GREEN
    Course Poultry Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 601 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup butter
    • ¼ cup flour
    • ½ cup onion diced
    • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
    • 2 ½ cups milk whole
    • 3 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded divided use
    • 2 ounces cream cheese
    • 2 peas frozen or fresh
    • 3 cups cooked rice
    • 3 cups cooked chicken diced or shredded
    • 1 cup buttery crackers
    • 1 teaspoon Ranch dressing powder optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
    • Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.
    • Melt the butter in a medium pot over medium heat.
    • Add the onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent and taking on color.
    • Add the flour to the pot and stir to coat the onions; cook for 1 minute to cook the flour taste out of the roux.
    • Slowly whisk the milk into the pan.
    • Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes or until sauce has thickened (coats the back of a spoon).
    • Add the cream cheese, 2 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese and the salt, pepper to the sauce.
    • Lower the head and stir until smooth.
    • Place the rice, chicken and peas (or other vegetable) in a large bowl and stir to combine.
    • Pour the sauce over the top and toss to coat evenly.
    • Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
    • Sprinkle the remaining cup of cheese, crushed crackers and if using , the ranch dressing powder over the top.
    • Bake for 30 minutes or until casserole is bubbly, topping is browned and cheese is melted.

    Notes

    Cheesy chicken casserole tips:

    • If you don't have fresh garlic substitute in ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • The crackers I use are the Ritz crackers but any butter cracker will work, coarsely crushed (24 crackers or ¾ of a sleeve)
    • To help keep the sauce from becoming lumpy, I warm the milk in the microwave first.
    • Cook multiple chicken breasts at the beginning of the week and use them in this and other recipes throughout the week.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Calories: 601kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 31gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 127mgSodium: 515mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8g

    Nutrition Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected. SavoringTheGood®

    « Pumpkin Ravioli Recipe (With Wonton Wrappers)
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    About Sarah Mock

    Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.

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    Sarah Mock

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    Sarah Mock is a classically trained Chef and graduate of Johnson & Wales University. A culinary blogger for 13 years Sarah helps the home cook prepare her recipes with professional results.
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