Creamy Garlic Chicken & Rice (Printable)

Hearty baked casserole combining tender chicken, rice, and vegetables in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce with melted cheese topping.

# What you'll need:

→ Poultry

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced

→ Rice & Broth

02 - 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
03 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup frozen corn, optional

→ Dairy & Cheese

08 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of garlic soup
09 - 1 cup whole milk
10 - 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Spices & Seasonings

12 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
13 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
17 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and diced red bell pepper for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir uncooked rice into the vegetable mixture. Add chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly to coat rice evenly with spices.
04 - Transfer the seasoned rice and vegetable mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Add cooked chicken and frozen corn if using. Mix thoroughly to distribute ingredients evenly.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together garlic Parmesan soup, chicken broth, and whole milk until smooth and well combined. Pour the mixture over casserole ingredients and stir gently to combine.
06 - Sprinkle Parmesan and mozzarella cheese evenly across the entire surface of the casserole.
07 - Cover casserole tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven.
08 - Remove aluminum foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until rice is tender and the cheese topping is golden and bubbling.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal that comes together in under an hour, so you can actually have dinner on the table without stress.
  • One dish means one less thing to wash, which never gets old.
  • The flavor profile hits that sweet spot between sophisticated and deeply comforting, making it feel fancier than it actually is.
02 -
  • Don't skip the sauté step for the vegetables and rice—that's where the foundation of flavor actually happens, and rushing it will make the dish taste flat.
  • The foil matters more than you'd think; it traps steam that cooks the rice gently, so remove it only for those final 10 minutes to get that golden top.
  • Whisk the soup mixture smoothly before adding it or you'll end up with lumps that don't dissolve during baking.
03 -
  • If you can't find cream of garlic Parmesan soup, make a quick substitute by combining one can of cream of chicken soup with 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan—it's not identical but it's genuinely close enough.
  • Use a whisk rather than a spoon when combining the soup mixture with broth and milk; it ensures no lumps hide at the bottom of the bowl, and you'll have a smooth, silky sauce.
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