An all-in-one casserole is makes a convenient weeknight meal, and this chicken and rice casserole is an excellent example. The dish is chock full of fresh vegetables, too. It’s a super easy casserole to throw together; just pop it in the oven and toss a salad or warm some biscuits to go along with it.
For the chicken, you can use leftover chicken or a family-size store-bought rotisserie chickens. Or make it with diced leftover turkey if that’s what you have on hand. A combination of chicken and ham is a good option as well.
Replace the diced tomatoes with a can of chili-style tomatoes.
Sprinkle extra Parmesan cheese over the top of the casserole about 5 minutes before it’s ready.
Chicken and Rice Casserole With Zucchini
This chicken and rice casserole includes zucchini, mushrooms, and chopped tomatoes. Parmesan cheese adds another layer of flavor to this bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Chicken, Zucchini
- Method: Bake
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided use)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 medium zucchini (diced)
- 4 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 3 cups chicken (cooked and diced)
- 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon dried leaf thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (crumbled)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (or 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease a 3-quart baking dish or 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half of the onions and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, zucchini, and mushrooms, along with another tablespoon of oil and continue to cook for 3 minutes.
- To the skillet add the chicken, rice, stock, thyme, rosemary, and Parmesan cheese. Add kosher salt and pepper to taste. Turn the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the skillet and add the remaining onions. Cook the onions for 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and chili powder and season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the tomato mixture over the chicken and rice mixture.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until the rice is tender.
