Easy Cheesy Chicken and Rice

This cheesy rice and chicken recipe is baked in the oven with onion soup mix and cream of chicken soup for a comforting and satisfying casserole.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 794 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• cooking spray
• 1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix (such as Lipton®)
• 3 cups water, or more as needed
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, or more to taste
• 2 cups rice
• 2 (10.5 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Step 2

Spread rice into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup Cheddar cheese over rice; season with black pepper and salt. Arrange chicken evenly atop rice-cheese layer. Dot chicken evenly with rounded teaspoons of cream of chicken soup. Pour water over chicken, then sprinkle evenly with onion soup mix.

Step 3

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Check rice for doneness; if water is already completely absorbed, add 1/2 cup more water to keep mixture moist. Continue baking until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 4

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese over the dish to serve.