Made with pre-cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie chicken is perfect), you can prep this meal in just 15 minutes! Bake it now or store it in the fridge until you need it. I decided to top this chicken and wild rice casserole with crispy french fried onions, and I’m pretty sure that’s one of the best decisions I’ve made lately! This casserole turned out amazing and disappeared very quickly from my kitchen after I photographed it. A simple chicken casserole made with a blend of wild and long-grain rice, a creamy homemade garlic cheese sauce, shredded chicken, and mushrooms is already super comforting, but the topping takes it over the top! Just like they do for green bean casserole, Crispy fried onions add flavor and crunch that make this casserole irresistibly good.
Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole Recipe Highlights
Key Ingredients In Wild Rice Chicken Casserole
Here’s what you need to make the best chicken and wild rice casserole: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Cooked Chicken: Use a rotisserie chicken, or poach a couple of chicken breasts and shred them up before you get started. This recipe can also be made with leftovers! Mushrooms: White button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms will both work just fine. Wild Rice Blend: Don’t use just wild rice, the casserole will be too heavy. Instead, look for a rice blend that includes wild rice and long-grain rice. Common brands include Lundberg Family Farms’ wild blend and RiceSelect’s royal blend. If you can’t find wild rice mix, then just combine 1 cup of your favorite rice with ½ cup of wild rice. Chicken Broth: To give the rice flavor, cook it in chicken broth or chicken stock instead of water. Onion and Garlic: Fresh aromatic vegetables give the homemade sauce a rich, savory flavor. For the Sauce: Milk and sour cream make it extra rich. Whole milk works best, but any milk you have in the fridge is fine. Flour: A bit of all-purpose flour will thicken the sauce. Cheddar Cheese: For the meltiest cheese, grate fresh cheese from a block rather than using bagged shredded cheese. Crispy Onions: I have a recipe if you’d like to make crispy fried onions from scratch, but to keep things simple, feel free to use a can of French’s onions.
Need more easy casserole ideas? Try my stuffed pepper casserole, pizza casserole, or hamburger potato casserole next!
How To Make Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole from Scratch
Recipe Tips
Make it Ahead: Assemble the casserole as directed, leaving off the crispy onions. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you’re ready to bake, continue following the instructions. Add 5-10 extra minutes of bake time. Check the Rice Instructions: Your brand and style of wild rice blend may have slightly different cooking instructions to mine. The instructions in the recipe card should work, but always consult the package directions, just in case. Cool Before Serving: Allow the casserole to rest out of the oven for at least ten minutes before serving it. Otherwise, it will be much too hot! Add a Garnish: Fresh parsley is always a good idea!
Storing Tips
Store any leftover wild rice casserole in the fridge, in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Leftovers reheat well in the microwave.
What To Serve With Chicken Casserole
To make the most of this easy casserole, serve it with a simple tossed salad, or your favorite steamed or sauteed vegetables. Roasted broccoli and carrots would be amazing as a side dish with this!
What can I use instead of crispy onions?
Any kind of crispy topping can be used instead of the onions. Try it with buttered cornflakes, crushed Ritz crackers, or buttered and seasoned panko bread crumbs.
Can I use Uncle Ben’s wild rice in this recipe?
The classic and well-known chicken and wild rice recipe is made with a box of Uncle Ben’s rice and canned soup. I chose to use fresher, less processed ingredients here! If the only type of wild rice blend that you can find is in a small box, you will probably need two boxes, and you should cook according to the package instructions, without all of the seasoning included.
Is Wild Rice actually rice?
It’s not! Wild rice is actually a type of grass, and the plant that it comes from is not at all related to domesticated rice. Other names for wild rice include water oats, Canada Rice, Indian Rice, or manoomin. Conclusion example: Save this recipe for the next time you……..Pin it for more people to enjoy too! (Change text) © Little Sunny Kitchen
