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Emergency Chicken Rice Casserole

Recipe video above. Dump-and-bake creamy chicken rice casserole made FROM SCRATCH! Perfectly cooked rice, creamy cheesy sauce, juicy seasoned chicken. Unusually high liquid-to-rice ratio because 1) baked uncovered (brown chicken); and 2) creamy rice (rather than stodgy!). See Note 7 re: SCALING recipe!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 5 - 6 people
Calories: 617 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Chicken:
  • 500g (1 lb) chicken thighs or tenders (tenderloin) , cut into 1.5cm / 2/3" pieces (Note 1)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp vegetable or chicken stock powder (granulated bouillon) (Note 2)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Rice:
  • 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) chicken broth/stock , low sodium
  • 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) milk , any fat %
  • 1 1/2 cups long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 3)
  • 1/4 cup (35g) flour , plain / all purpose
  • 1 tsp vegetable or chicken stock powder (granulated bouillon) (Note 2)
  • 2 cloves garlic , minced
  • 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
  • 2 broccoli heads (large!), cut into florets (Note 4)
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded cheese
Garnish:
  • 2 green onions , finely sliced

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F (180°C/350°F fan/convection).
  2. Mix Chicken Ingredients.
  3. Heat chicken broth and milk until hot using any method (stove, microwave). Can combine together in saucepan. (Note 5)
  4. Spread rice in 23 x 33cm / 9 x 13" ceramic or glass baking dish. (Note 6)
  5. Sprinkle with flour, stock powder and garlic.
  6. Add the hot chicken broth, stir until flour dissolved (some small lumps ok).
  7. Add milk, swish rice to spread out evenly.
  8. Spread broccoli on top, then chicken, then plonk butter on (anywhere).
  9. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes. (Might get some browned skin on surface, that's ok)
  10. CHECK rice before stirring - should be JUST cooked (Note 7).
  11. Add half the cheese, stir through, being sure to get rice in the corners and edges of pan. Should be creamy and quite loose (see video).
  12. Top with cheese, return to oven for 5 minutes until just melted.
  13. Sprinkle with green onion, if using, then serve!

Notes

  • Chicken - boneless thigh or tenderloin best for juiciest chicken with required cook time. Breast also works but not quite as juicy!
  • Stock powder (aka granulated bouillon / bouillon powder) - this is bouillon cubes in powder form. Any brand or type of chicken or vegetable works fine here, has more flavour than salt which is needed for this shortcut recipe. I like using Vegeta (blue can, vegetable stock powder, sold in herbs & spices aisle, also the secret ingredient Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, fab easy Chicken Rice Soup and Chicken Pot Pie).
  • Crumbled bouillon cubes will work just fine too! They are essentially the same. The good ones crumble easily into powder. If it doesn't, dissolve in some of the hot liquid then add.
  • Rice - recipe works best with long grain white rice. Will also work with medium or short white rice grain, "standard" (unspecified) white rice, jasmine* or basmati rice*. Recipe as written won't work with: brown rice, wild rice, risotto, paella rice, quinoa.
  • * These types may take 10 minutes or longer during first bake to cook through, make sure to check before stirring rice!
  • Broccoli - use 2 big heads! About 4 - 5 heaped cups, 400g / 14 oz - it can even take more. Frozen broccoli can be used but thaw and drain off excess liquid first (don't put frozen in because it will bring down the temp of liquids = uneven rice cooking).
  • Heating liquid ensures rice cooks evenly and without going gluggy. Heat separately in microwave (I do this) or mix together in same saucepan & heat on stove. It doesn't matter which order they go into the baking pan, it's just easier to pour some liquid in first to dissolve flour, then the rest.
  • doesn't matter which order they go into the baking pan
  • Ceramic or glass pan - this is what I always use for good control of heat. Heavy duty cast iron or similar will also work. Flimsy/thin metal pans won't provide even heating as well and may affect how evenly the rice cooks.
  • Cooked rice - rice should be cooked at 40 minutes. But if not, cover with foil and stick it back in the oven. Make sure you check rice before stirring - even cooking of rice depends on remaining submerged under liquid.
  • Scaling recipe (slide scaler) - If you scale down to half, please use a smaller pan (say 8"/20cm). If you scale UP, it should scale up ok by about 25% in the same pan, but any more and I'd recommend using a separate pan to ensure rice cooks evenly.
  • Nutrition per serving, assuming 5 servings (generous quantities!)

Nutrition Information

Calories 617cal (31%) Carbohydrates 64g (21%) Protein 42g (84%) Fat 21g (32%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Cholesterol 112mg (37%) Sodium 1301mg (54%) Potassium 1042mg (30%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 1265IU (25%) Vitamin C 83mg (92%) Calcium 428mg (43%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 5- 6 people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 617

% Daily Value*

Calories 617cal 31%
Carbohydrates 64g 21%
Protein 42g 84%
Fat 21g 32%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 112mg 37%
Sodium 1301mg 54%
Potassium 1042mg 22%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 1265IU 25%
Vitamin C 83mg 92%
Calcium 428mg 43%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.