Ranch Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole is an easy one-dish chicken dinner recipe made with just six ingredients and takes 5 minutes to prep!

Ranch or Caesar dressing replaces Cream of Chicken Soup for a delicious twist on this classic dish! This Ranch Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe that will make your mouth water!

Back to school season is just about here (eek!), and this Chicken and Rice Recipe will become a weeknight staple.

Simple and delicious, this effortless dinner will become a family favorite (and a favorite for you to make, too!) After all, who doesn’t love a good casserole dish?

Fresh Parmesan, chicken breasts, long grain rice, and crushed croutons basically have your entire ingredient list! 

I love this recipe because unlike a lot of others, this one doesn’t use condensed cream of mushroom soup or chicken soup!

Prep time is only about 5 minutes, then there are about 75 to 85 minutes of hands-off cook time. (Maybe you can spend that time whipping up some Cookies for a yummy dessert?)

How To Make Chicken And Rice Casserole

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray. Arrange the chicken breasts in the dish and season with salt and pepper.
2. Pour the rice into the baking dish, distributing it evenly on and around the chicken breasts.
3. In a large measuring cup or bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, dressing, and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and gently pour over the chicken and rice.
4. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.
5. Bake for 75 to 90 minutes until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F AND all of the liquid has been absorbed.
6. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with the remaining Parmesan cheese then sprinkle the crushed croutons on top of the cheese. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes. Remove and garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Can You Make Chicken And Rice Casserole With Instant Rice?

In a word … no! Instant rice will be done way before the chicken is baked through.

But here’s the good news: It wouldn’t save you time anyway, because the uncooked rice and chicken are baked together. 

Tips And Variations For Chicken And Rice Casserole

I’d like to share a few pro tips and optional variations that will make this recipe a winner every time you make it! 

Extra Flavor Options: This chicken and rice recipe simply calls for salt and pepper, but you can add additional seasonings to the chicken if desired. Popular options might include onion and garlic powder, paprika, or Italian seasonings.

Switch Up The Dressing: Ranch dressing may be substituted for pretty much any creamy salad dressing such as Ceasar, creamy Italian, or Parmesan peppercorn.

Chicken Options: It’s best to use boneless chicken thighs or breasts in this recipe. Chicken breasts will be tender and juicy and thighs will fall apart easily after cooking.

Rice: You have some options when it comes to choosing your rice. This rice dish calls for long-grain rice, and this includes basmati rice, jasmine rice, white rice, and brown rice.

Broth vs Water: I have made this recipe with both and I much prefer broth, the rice is so much more flavorful this way. However, if you don’t have any on hand, water can be used.

Greasing: Cooking spray is recommended to grease the pan, but a thin coat of olive oil could be used as well.

If you’re looking for more casserole recipe inspiration for easier weeknights, try this Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole and Three Cheese Bacon Mac and Cheese, too! 

Let’s Connect!

I created a fun little group on facebook and I’d love for you to join in! It’s a place where you can ask questions and see what’s new with Sugar & Soul! If you’d like to check it out, you can request to join HERE.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #sugarandsoulco so I can see all the wonderful recipes YOU make from this site! You can also Subscribe to my Newsletter so you never miss a delicious recipe again!