Chicken Wild Rice Casserole with Creamy Mushroom and Cheese Recipe
This comforting Chicken Wild Rice Casserole combines tender shredded chicken, nutty wild rice, sautéed vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce, all baked to golden perfection with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Casserole:
- 2 cups cooked wild rice
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 cup mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 cup carrots (diced)
- 1 cup celery (diced)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup (or homemade)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup (or homemade)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (or heavy cream for extra richness)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Swiss)
For the Topping:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (or crushed crackers)
- 2 tbsp butter (melted)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when your casserole is assembled.
- Cook the Wild Rice: If your wild rice isn’t already cooked, prepare it according to the package instructions. Wild rice takes about 45 minutes to cook, so plan accordingly.
- Sauté the Vegetables: In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp of butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Make the Creamy Sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, milk (or heavy cream), and shredded cheese until smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, combine cooked wild rice, shredded chicken, sautéed vegetables, and the creamy sauce. Stir everything together until well-mixed.
- Add the Topping: In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole.
- Bake & Serve: Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Wild rice can be substituted with brown rice or a rice blend if desired.
- For a richer sauce, substitute milk with heavy cream.
- The breadcrumb topping can be omitted or replaced with crushed crackers for a different texture.
- Make sure not to overcook the wild rice as it will continue cooking during baking.
- This casserole freezes well; reheat covered in the oven until warmed through.
Keywords: Chicken Wild Rice Casserole, baked chicken casserole, wild rice recipe, creamy chicken casserole, comfort food
