Dicing the Chicken
In testing this slow cooker chicken and rice casserole recipe, the best results were with diced chicken. It kept the chicken from drying out as we give the rice enough time to cook and become tender. To do this, place the dry rice in a metal strainer and rinse it with water until the water runs clear. The water coming off the rice will initially look cloudy and will eventually run clean. Another way to do this is to put all of the rice in a measuring cup filled with water. Stir it around. Drain the rice into a strainer and repeat two or three times until the water the rice is sitting in is clear.
Storing Leftovers
Leftovers of this recipe can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. Store in an airtight container. Reheat over low heat, adding milk or chicken stock if necessary to create a smooth consistency. As with all leftovers, use your best discretion. You can use either cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup. And I have a homemade recipe for both! I really believe that you should be able to cook totally from scratch if you want to. And also that shortcuts are great! If you have the time, try the homemade recipes. That said, my firm believe is that time around the table with your family is more important than what is on it. So if using store-bought condensed soup is what will make dinner time happen in your house, go for it! If you have the time try the homemade recipes. I have a recipe for Homemade Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup and for Homemade Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup. My preference is the mushroom, but you should do what you enjoy most in your house. I have a link in the recipe card with the exact Crock Pot that this was tested in. But I can’t say enough that you need to know your own crock pot. Crockpots vary in the amount of time it takes to cook recipes. That is why you often see a range in the recipes for them. Too crunchy of rice likely means that it wasn’t cooked long enough. Too mushy of rice means it was cooked too long. I suggest that you test the rice about an hour before the cook time is up and go from there as to how much longer the recipe needs.
