Chicken Wild Rice Casserole Recipe
This hearty Chicken Wild Rice Casserole combines tender chicken, aromatic vegetables, creamy sauce, and nutty wild rice baked to perfection with a crispy buttered bread topping. It’s a comforting, wholesome meal perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Rice
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 carrots, chopped
- 5 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 cup wild rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 lb chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 10 tbsp butter, divided
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp poultry seasoning
- 4 tbsp flour
- 2 cups milk
Topping
- 3–4 cups cubed bread (sturdy, dry, or day-old bread works best)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F. In a large baking dish, combine the chopped onion, carrots, celery, wild rice, and chicken broth. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes to cook the rice and soften the vegetables.
- Prepare the sauce: While the rice is baking, melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, and poultry seasoning. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute to form a roux. Gradually whisk in the milk to create a smooth, creamy sauce and cook until thickened.
- Optional topping: Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter. Toss the cubed bread in the melted butter to coat evenly. This topping will add a golden, crunchy layer on the casserole.
- Assemble the casserole: Remove the foil from the baking dish after the rice has cooked. Add the raw chicken pieces and creamy sauce to the dish and stir everything to combine well. Evenly arrange the buttered bread cubes on top of the mixture for the topping.
- Bake: Increase the oven temperature to 450°F. Bake the uncovered casserole for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through (no pink remains) and the bread cubes are golden brown and crisp.
- Serve: Remove from oven and, if desired, garnish with freshly ground salt, pepper, or chopped parsley for extra flavor and color. Serve warm and enjoy your comforting casserole!
Notes
- Using day-old bread helps create a crunchier topping.
- The casserole can be prepared a day in advance and baked just before serving.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before adding the topping.
- To avoid overcooking chicken, check at 20 minutes during the final bake.
- Substituting half-and-half for milk will make the sauce richer.
Keywords: Chicken casserole, wild rice, creamy chicken casserole, comfort food, baked casserole
