15 Easy Rice Casserole Recipes

April 02, 2020
Photo: Daniel Agee; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton
We love dinners that start with a pantry staple, and these easy rice casserole recipes are no exception. Whether you're in the mood for classic comfort food (may we recommend this Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole?) or something new and exciting (this Hawaiian Chicken Casserole fits the bill), you'll come back to this collection again and again.     
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Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

Photo: Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Ana Kelly; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee  
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Kids aren’t the only ones who love this melty, Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole. The rice, broccoli, and chicken provide a nice substance for the creamy, béchamel type sauce, while the buttery topping adds crunch and richness. In other words, it’s pure comfort food, and you can have it ready for a weeknight dinner right at under an hour.
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Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Casserole

Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Blakeslee Giles; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Casserole Recipe
This dish is all the proof you need that cauliflower can be comforting. It’s definitely creamy, thanks to multiple types of cheese, but still has a good bite from the cauliflower rice’s texture. You can make your own cauliflower rice by pulsing the florets and stem in a food processor, or you can buy it fresh or frozen at most grocery stores.

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Chicken and Rice Casserole

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro
Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe

Although the yellow and green squash give this chicken and rice casserole a colorful appearance, you can use one or the other, if you prefer.

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Hoppin’ John Casserole

Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Hoppin’ John Casserole Recipe

Get all your New Year’s good luck in one dish with this casserole full of bacon, peas, rice, and collards. The mixture of soft rice with tooth collards and peas, plus chopped bacon makes for a nice variety of textures. It’s great on its own, but it’s also a great side dish for fried chicken or pork chops. 

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Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Chicken, Broccoli, and Brown Rice Casserole Recipe
This healthy whole-grain spin on a comfort food classic is indulgent, creamy, and a guaranteed family-pleaser. To feed a family a four, this dish costs $10.41.

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Frittata + Rice Casserole

Photo by Anjali Pinto
Frittata + Rice Casserole Recipe
Breakfast paella is truly a hearty, satisfying dish that's made for sharing and a magnet for praise from anyone who’s lucky enough to get a bite. Visit your local butcher for top-notch Spanish sausages or visit latienda.com to order authentic ingredients.
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Creamy Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez  
Creamy Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Recipe
Wild rice is wonderfully fragrant; it’s the perfect counter to the creamy, earthy mushroom mixture and has enough texture that the grains won’t bloat or fall apart in the casserole. Simmer 11/2 cups rice in 6 cups water for 45 minutes and drain.

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Hawaiian Chicken Casserole

Time Inc. Video Studio
Hawaiian Chicken Casserole Recipe
This delicious throwback dish offers an indulgent balance of sweet and savory the whole family is sure to love. Opting for frozen, crispy breaded chicken tenders keeps this casserole fast and easy to prepare, and combats your saucy chicken from becoming soggy.

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Squash and Green Chile Casserole

Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Squash and Green Chile Casserole Recipe

Filled with fresh zucchini and squash, this casserole doesn't require the oven.

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Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck
Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole Recipe

Let this dish stand a few minutes after baking so the rice will absorb the liquid, yielding a creamy texture.

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Okra and Rice Casserole

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham
Okra and Rice Casserole Recipe
Okra is delicious deep-fried, but they are more versatile than you think. The smaller pods are the most tender so look for ones 3 - 4 inches long. Refrigerate and cook within a few days. Okra "slime" naturally thickens stews and soups.

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Mediterranean Lamb Casserole

Antonis Achilles; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay Clark
Mediterranean Lamb Casserole Recipe
This easy take on Greek comfort food is rich, meaty, and tangy. The strong lamb is balanced by sweet onions and carrots, and rich eggplant that are all set off with the warm spices. Tomatoes and yogurt give it brightness and the pitas provide texture and toastiness.
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Mexican Chili Verde Chicken Casserole

Photo: Jen Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey and Gordon Sawyer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Mexican Chili Verde Chicken Casserole Recipe
"I made this last night and my family loved it," says one glowing review. "I used yellow rice instead of the boil-in-the-bag white. I also added black beans and sauteed red pepper to the rice mixture. Will definitely make again!"

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Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

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Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole Recipe

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Chicken Panang Casserole

Photo: Daniel Agee; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton
Chicken Panang Casserole Recipe
When a Thai craving strikes, you’re first instinct probably isn’t to break out a casserole dish, but his streamlined take on classic chicken panang curry is a flavor-packed, one-dish dinner that’s gonna have you rethinking what it means to casserole.
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