Description
This Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is a comforting and delicious one-dish meal that is perfect for family dinners. Tender chicken, hearty wild rice, and a creamy sauce come together to create a flavorful casserole that is sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Units
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Chicken, Rice and Veggies
- 1 1/2 cups wild rice blend, COOKED according to package directions (measure uncooked)
- 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts or thighs, chopped into large bite-size pieces
- 1/4 tsp salt, pepper, paprika each
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 ounces baby Bella/cremini mushrooms, sliced
Cream Sauce
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/3 cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried parsley, dried basil each
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme, salt, pepper each
- 2 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Panko Topping (Optional)
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Prep chicken: While the chopped chicken is still on the cutting board, pat dry with a paper towel. Toss with salt, pepper, paprika. Set aside.
- Cook chicken: Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear for one minute, then continue to cook until opaque. Transfer chicken to a bowl.
- Sauté vegetables and aromatics: Add oil to the drippings. Sauté onions, carrots, and celery until tender. Add garlic and sauté briefly; transfer to the chicken bowl.
- Caramelize mushrooms: Melt butter with olive oil. Add mushrooms and cook until golden. Transfer to the chicken bowl.
- Cream Sauce: Whisk chicken broth and cornstarch. Melt butter with olive oil, whisk in flour, then gradually add chicken broth mixture, milk, and seasonings. Simmer until thickened, then add cheeses.
- Combine: Add chicken, mushrooms, veggies, and rice to the sauce. Stir and transfer to casserole dish. Top with cheddar cheese.
- Panko topping: Melt butter in olive oil, add panko, and cook until golden. Sprinkle over cheese.
- Bake: Cover and bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 90mg