The Ultimate Chicken Wild Rice Casserole Recipe
A comforting and hearty chicken wild rice casserole featuring tender chicken, earthy wild rice, sautéed vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce, topped with a golden buttery breadcrumb crust, baked to perfection.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes (excluding wild rice cooking time of 45 minutes if cooking rice fresh)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Casserole:
- 2 cups cooked wild rice
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 cup carrots (diced)
- 1 cup celery (diced)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup milk or heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Swiss)
For the Topping:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when your casserole is assembled.
- Cook the Wild Rice: If your wild rice isn’t already cooked, prepare it according to package instructions, which typically takes about 45 minutes.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion, minced garlic, carrots, celery, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Season with salt, black pepper, and dried thyme, then remove from heat.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, milk or heavy cream, and shredded cheese until well combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, combine the cooked wild rice, shredded chicken, sautéed vegetables, and creamy sauce. Stir everything until the mixture is well blended and evenly distributed.
- Add the Topping: In a small bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and grated Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole to create a crispy crust.
- Bake & Serve: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the casserole is bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Notes
- You can substitute wild rice with a blend of wild and brown rice if preferred.
- For extra flavor, add fresh herbs like parsley or rosemary to the sautéed vegetables.
- Use low-sodium soups and broth to reduce salt content if desired.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Keywords: chicken casserole, wild rice casserole, baked casserole, creamy chicken dish, comfort food, easy dinner recipe
