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Sharing my favorite simple one pan autumn chicken and wild rice casserole recipe with you guys today!
I share a ton of recipes here on Half Baked Harvest, but I don’t often share more traditional, homey ones like this wild rice casserole. It’s odd because my family loves traditional food. Meaning lots of chicken and rice, tacos, and pasta… basically anything on the more bland side of the dinner spectrum. While I do share those types of recipes, normally I’ll put some kind of spin on them. I love flavor, nothing bland over here!
Today though, I am going the more classic route and loving it. This is cozy, healthy, filling, and all things delicious. It’s not a bland casserole in any way, just simple, feel good kind of food.
Okay, okay, and there’s maybe a good amount of cheese on top too…
What? Always got to have a little cheese.
I don’t know if you guys remember, but around this time last year I shared a cream of mushroom chicken and wild rice soup that my family and I loved. This casserole is sort of similar flavor wise, but just a lot less soupy and much heavier on the wild rice.
So just what inspired me to make this casserole? Well, like most of the more classic recipes I share with you guys, my mom inspired this one. She’s always loved chicken and wild rice casserole, but she grew up on the ones that are canned soup based. I wanted to create a version that was just as tasty, but a little healthier.
Fortunately, it was a pretty easy task and it turned out really delicious too.
Start off by cooking up some mushrooms, add some apples, wild rice, and chicken. Next stir in some broth and a splash of wine (you know, for good measure). Cover and simmer until the rice is tender. Then stir in some spinach, top with cheese, and bake until golden.
DONE.
Really doesn’t get much easier, and I love that this dish is an entire meal…carbs, protein, and veggies all together in one dish. This is truly a recipe made for busy nights.
Also, if you’re wondering about the addition of apples, I know it may seem a little odd, but it’s the perfect touch of sweetness for this extra savory recipe. Plus, I love the combo of apples and Gruyère cheese, so good.
Double also? if you wanted to add another layer of flavor, I would highly recommend topping the dish with thinly sliced prosciutto before baking. The salty flavors would be delicious with the apples, mushrooms, and rice.
And that’s it for me today guys. Shortening up the post a bit because I experienced my first migraine today (it’s Monday night as I am typing this) that has left me extremely out of it. The headache started a couple of days ago, but hit its high today and woe, I was not ready for it at all. Fingers crossed I’m on the up and up from here.
Hoping you’re all having a great week, and happy Wednesday!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
ps. having leftovers of this dish for dinner tonight, because comfort is totally needed right now.
Greetings from Canada !
Cinnamon sugar croissant recipe was a huge hit. Great thank you for that recipe. I am going to make your One Pan Chicken and Rice Casserole. Plan to buy new cook ware, What size is the oven proof pan you used? Also could you suggest a brand for me to purchase?.
Love, love your recipes and outstanding web site.
Thank you for your comments.
Yvonne Adams
Hi there! So glad you loved the cinnamon loaf! linking to my favorite 12-inch skillet below. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan ???
https://rstyle.me/+uRa1TA-x_zPuJR_OI2iacA
https://rstyle.me/+XsskSa3BNRH_WrK5g0ZxPw
Wow!!! Talk about an explosion of flavor! I substituted kale for spinach and it worked really well. Unfortunately, the apple cooked down to an undetectable amount, so I may double the apple next time, or use chunks instead of thin slices. Fantastic recipe, overall. Thank you!
Thank you so much Erika! xTieghan
Literally followed the directions to the t. Way too much liquid, it took well into and hour and a half to cook down and ended up just tossing since the rice was still hard. Just frustrated with the time and money wasted.
Hi Madison! I am so sorry to hear this! I am wondering what could have gone wrong.. If you could email me I would love to help you out with this! xTieghan
contact@halfbakedharvest.com
Sometimes I click on a recipe on Pinterest because it looks like there’s a certain ingredient in the picture that looks really good, and when I read the recipe I realize it’s an entirely different ingredient, but I’m still inspired to make it with the ingredient I originally pictured. E.g. here I thought the apples were delicata squash. Gonna try it with both. Canned soups are definitely gross, so this looks amazing (but doesn’t everything on your blog?! 🙂
I hope you love this with both! Thank you so much, you’re too sweet! xTieghan
I just made this recipe tonight. It was delicious, but the chicken turned out dry, any suggestions? ( I cooked the dish for 50 min) I was thinking of adding it 30 minutes after putting the rice in…thoughts? Also next time I cook this, I’m definitely going to double the amount of mushrooms!
HI! Was your chicken very small? It sounds like it just cooked faster than the rest of the dish. Adding it a little later should solve the issue. Please let me know if you have any other questions. So glad you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
This casserole looks delicious, I love mushrooms! I’m having friends over for a weeknight dinner party and I was wondering if part of the recipe can be made the day before and then baked In the evening after work? Thanks!!
Hey Sylvia! You can make the recipe all the way up until you are ready to bake. Then finish baking before you are ready to serve. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
This is a great recipe. I sort of went backwards on it, but it came out great. I hope your Migraines are minimal. Keep sharing.
Thank you so much Martin!
Do you mean to use skinless boneless chicken breasts? Would skin on bone in chicken breasts add more flavor?
Hey Lisa, I like using skinless, boneless chicken, but yes using skin on and bone-in chicken would add a bit more flavor. Please use what you prefer, but be sure to adjust the cooking time as skin on, bone in chicken will take longer to cook. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Fantastic meal. We love it. Should it be covered or uncovered?
HI Eric! You should keep the dish covered while cooking on the stove and then leave uncovered in the oven. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Please disregard my last question. Clearly I couldn’t read… : )
You’re fine! I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!
I’m wondering when to add in the 2 cups of baby spinach. I see it in the ingredient list but not in the instructions. Thank you.
Hi! You add the spinach right before adding the cheese on top. It’s in the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight !
.My picky eater…enjoyed it .
.My wild rice hater …. loved it, sad he couldn’t eat more (had to save dessert room ).
. Every other guest tonight LOVED IT!
Easy to make and all flavors work amazingly together, it will for sure be made again..and again..and again!!
Thank you so much Aleisha!
We just finished eating this for dinner (with both of us getting seconds!) and I’m already so excited to have leftovers for lunch tomorrow! Delicious!! Definitely will be making again. Perfect cozy Fall dinner.
Thank you Maria!
This looks delicious! Is the chicken raw or cooked when you cube it?
Hey Jess! The chicken is raw when you cube it. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
I had a similar problem with not getting the rice to cook. I used Trader Joe’s wild rice – used twice as much liquid and cooked it a good 30 minutes longer and the rice was still hard 🙁
Hey Kellie! So sorry for the trouble. Where do you live? Sometimes living at a high elevation will take a longer cooking time, so that is why I ask. Also are covering the pan while the chicken cooks? Any details on how you are cooking this will help me problem solve for you! Thanks so much! xTieghan