Description
Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting, creamy baked dish combining tender shredded chicken, fluffy white rice, and savory cream of chicken soup, topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust and melted cheddar cheese. This hearty casserole is easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners, offering a golden, bubbly finish with optional fresh green onion or parsley garnish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Topping
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
- ½ cup melted butter
Optional Garnish
- Chopped green onions or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure the casserole doesn’t stick during baking.
- Mix Casserole Base: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked white rice, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the mixed casserole ingredients into the prepared baking dish and spread the mixture evenly to ensure uniform baking.
- Prepare Cracker Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the melted butter until the crumbs are fully coated and slightly clumped together.
- Add Topping to Casserole: Sprinkle the buttery cracker mixture evenly over the top of the casserole, covering the surface completely.
- Add Remaining Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the cracker topping for a cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until the top is bubbly, golden brown, and the casserole is heated through.
- Garnish and Serve: Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and garnish with chopped green onions or parsley if desired. Serve warm for best flavor.
Notes
- Using cooked chicken and rice ahead of time speeds up preparation.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom for a different flavor.
- For a lower-fat option, use low-fat sour cream and reduced-fat cheddar cheese.
- Crushing Ritz crackers finely helps achieve an even topping layer.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated before baking, just add a few extra minutes to baking time if cold from the fridge.
- Be careful not to overbake to prevent the topping from burning.
