Italian Chicken Rice Casserole

Try This Easy & Delicious Chicken Casserole Recipe

This Italian chicken rice casserole is based on one of my most cherished family recipes. If you're looking for unique chicken casserole recipes, this one offers tried and true Italian flavors.

In looking for a variation from our usual, much cherished family Chicken Rice Casserole recipe, I decided to transform it with some of my favorite flavors. Like that one, it goes together quickly and can even be mostly assembled ahead of time.

Italian Chicken Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

2 to 4 chicken breasts or boneless thighs
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cooked white rice
Salt & pepper to taste
1 T. oregano
Parmesan cheese

1 T. basil
1 cup chicken broth
1 can cream soup (chicken or chicken with garlic)
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs or garlic croutons, crushed

Directions:

Cook the rice until done, following your usual routine or package directions. Cook the chicken either on top of the stove, by boiling in some water or in a casserole in the microwave with water. Either way, cook the onion with the chicken.

When the chicken is done, strain the broth out, retaining it and cut the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Combine all ingredients together (except the cheeses & bread crumbs or croutons) in a 2-quart casserole.

Top with the mozzarella cheese and then the bread crumbs/croutons and sprinkle with a bit of oregano and finally Parmesan. Then, bake at 325 for about 30 to 60 minutes, until hot and bubbly and the cheese is melted.

This casserole is enhanced by serving it with small portions of Caesar salad and toasted garlic bread.

I've developed a number of ethnic variations on my original recipe. Be sure to check them all out at the bottom of this page! They're each delicious and meant to appeal to different tastes and moods, but they're all great.

Variations

Use brown rice or arborio rice instead of white (or even pasta or spaghetti)
Use leftover cooked chicken or store-bought chicken breast strips
Change the seasonings to suit your palate
Mix 1/2 cup of Parmesan into the casserole before baking
Add in other vegetables, such as mushrooms, zucchini or eggplant

There really are many ways you could go with this recipe, so once you've tried this one, the original, or any of the variations I've thought up, feel free to let go with your own imagination. You really can't go wrong, if you use the thrown together principles.