Description
This Angel Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting, creamy baked dish featuring tender chicken, fluffy rice, and melted colby jack cheese, all blended with garlic, Italian dressing, and cream cheese for extra flavor. It’s a perfect family-friendly meal that’s easy to prepare and bakes into a cheesy, bubbling casserole.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice Mixture
- 3 cups cooked chopped chicken
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 (0.7-oz) packet Italian Dressing Mix
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup
- 1 cup chicken stock
Dairy and Seasonings
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 (8-oz) package cream cheese (softened)
- 2 cups shredded colby jack cheese (divided)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, stir together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the cream of chicken soup, cooked chopped chicken, cooked rice, minced garlic, Italian dressing mix, half a cup of shredded colby jack cheese, and chicken stock. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the combined rice and chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups of shredded colby jack cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake Covered and Uncovered: Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is fully melted and slightly golden. Optionally, garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken and rice ahead of time to reduce prep and cook time.
- Make sure the cream cheese and butter are softened to blend easily.
- You can substitute colby jack with mozzarella or cheddar cheese if preferred.
- Covering the casserole initially helps create a moist environment so the casserole doesn’t dry out.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
