Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

This Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is cozy, comforting, and packed with hearty ingredients like spinach, mushrooms, and tender chicken. It's a Midwest style hotdish that's easy to prep and perfect for weeknight dinners or sharing with friends!

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This post was last updated 7/2025.

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Shopping list:

• long grain and wild rice rice a roni (plus ingredients listed on box to prepare)
• carrots
• onion
• fresh white mushrooms
• garlic
• cream of chicken soup
• sour cream
• fresh spinach
• cooked chicken breast
• black pepper
• swiss cheese

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food! Warm, hearty, and packed with flavor. Made with long grain and wild rice Rice-A-Roni, tender chicken breast, fresh mushrooms, garlic, and carrots, it's all tied together with creamy soup, sour cream, and shredded Swiss cheese. Fresh spinach adds a pop of color and nutrition, and the whole dish bakes up hot and bubbly in under an hour. Growing up in Minnesota, we’d call this kind of recipe a “hotdish”. A one pan, hot and hearty meal that just makes sense. It’s the kind of meal that’s easy, affordable, and always hits the spot.

This casserole is perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, especially if you’ve got leftover rotisserie chicken on hand. I made it recently when a friend came over, she loved it so much she took some home. While I don’t usually cook with boxed meals or cream soups, this is one of those nostalgic, comforting dishes that just calls for it. You can also mix things up, try different Rice-A-Roni flavors or swap in pepper jack cheese for a little heat. However you make it, this recipe is a crowd pleaser that never disappoints.

Looking for more hearty casserole recipes? Try my Pizza Pasta Casserole or Crack Chicken and Rice Casserole!

Have some more fresh spinach to use up? Check out this Tomato and Spinach Pasta Salad or Mushroom and Spinach Orzo!

Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe 💙

Recipe tips and substitution ideas:

• Try using any flavor of Rice-A-Roni you have on hand. Add in your favorite fresh or frozen vegetables, seasoning blends, crushed red pepper, or fresh herbs for a boost of flavor. We love using rice pilaf with pepper jack cheese! You can also switch up the cream soup variety or use a homemade version if preferred. For protein, diced turkey, ham, ground chicken, or ground beef all work.

• If you’d rather skip the boxed rice mix, simply cook your own white, brown or wild rice in chicken broth and use about 2 1/2 or 3 cups of cooked rice as a substitute.

• This dish is freezer friendly and great for prepping ahead. When you’re ready to bake, just remove it from the freezer and cook as directed, adding an additional 20–30 minutes or until it’s hot and bubbly throughout.

• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days and reheat well for quick lunches or dinners.

• I sliced my carrots very thin, and they cooked perfectly with the listed cooking time. However, if you prefer them more tender or are using thicker slices, try stirring them in during the last 10 minutes of baking instead of just the final five.

• For the best flavor and melting quality, I recommend using freshly shredded cheese instead of pre packaged shredded varieties.

Our favorite kitchen equipment and supplies used with this recipe:

• Hand Crank Cheese Shredder
• Epicurean Kitchen Series Cutting Board
• Nextrend Garlic Twister
• SHAN ZU Knife Set

Yield 6 servings

Author Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Prep time

10 Min

Cook time

50 Min

Total time

1 Hour

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

Baked until bubbly and golden, this cheesy casserole combines Rice-A-Roni, sour cream, and Swiss for a satisfying, family-friendly meal. Great for using up leftovers and freezer-friendly too!

Ingredients

• 1 - 4.3 ounce box long grain and wild rice rice a roni (plus ingredients listed on box to prepare)
• 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup finely diced onion
• 2 cups sliced fresh white mushrooms, halved and sliced
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 - 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup shredded swiss cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
2. Prepare the Rice-A-Roni according to the package directions. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in the carrots, onion, mushrooms, and garlic. Continue to cook until the vegetables are softened and the rice is fully cooked.
3. Once the rice is done, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, spinach, cooked chicken breast, and black pepper until well combined.
4. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.
5. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is melted.
6. Let cool slightly, then serve warm.

Hot Eats and Cool Reads is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you try from this blog/website. You may not always have the same results due to variations in ingredients, humidity, altitude, cooking temperatures, typos, errors, omissions, or individual cooking abilities. 

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual's dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual.

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