Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is going to send you into a tailspin.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

The cheesiest, chicken-iest, tomato-iest casserole HACK tailspin of yo’ life.

I’m totally ripping myself in this recipe. But it’s okay because before I came up with this dish, I told myself I was going to rip myself, and myself responded to myself and said, “Dude, totally fine. Just give me credit.”

You know my obsession with throwing a bunch of raw and dried ish into a casserole dish, slidin’ it into the oven and letting it all fall in love, get married and have casserole babies? Yep yep.  Just like this Greek chicken and rice version. ‘Memba that?

Right. This is that, but the Italian version! Boomidy boom.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

Plus, that tomato pulp heaven is straight from our backyard garden, so the flavor be like uuuuuuh.

So this is what you’ll do. It’s ludicrously simple, so prepare to want to punch your computer screen.

A cup of rice goes in the bottom of a casserole dish. About three cups of freshly pureed tomatoes will be poured right over the top, all over the rice. Just all in it. All in dat. (<–sorry)

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

Yes, I’m showing you raw chicken, but it’s for the greater good!

Seasoned chicken strips will be gently nestled and arranged on the tomatoes and rice. Just like baby birds in a nest. Except without the nest and the baby birds part.

Then you’ll tear some fresh mozzarella cheese and just sort of scatter it over the top of the casserole. Go willy nilly. Get weird with it. No one’s watching.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

After 45 minutes of baking, flip the oven to broil and get the cheese good and browned and bubbly. Only take a nano, so do NOT WALK AWAY FROM THIS MOMENT. Sorry to scream at you.

Theeeen you’ll sprinkle some panko (mixed with melted butter and Italian seasoning and a little bit of parm) all over the top, and pop her back under the broiler for seriously like a minute. Not long at all. Keep a watch on it! Like baby birds in a nes- right.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

This photo isn’t fabulous, but I can’t even rightly care because you neeeed to seeee what you’re in for.

The rice is perfect. It soaked up all the tomato saucejuicepulp stuff and is completely wonderful.

The chicken is cooked all the way through, but remains tender in all of that delicate tomato/rice biz.

The cheese is gorgeously melted and gives the whole thing sort of a caprese flavor! Matter of dang fact, I should call this the Caprese Casserole. Fresh mozz + fresh tomatoes + basil on top + casserole mania = slap me, Wanda.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

You seriously have to try this. If for nothing else, to say you made a Caprese Casserole.

PATENT PENDING.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

Would you just look at that.

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole
Save RecipeSave Recipe
Recipe Image

Ingredients

  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 3 medium tomatoes, processed in a food processor (yielding about 3 cups puree)
  • 1 pound chicken breast, cut into strips
  • 1 Tbs. dried Italian seasoning, plus 2 more tsp
  • 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into pieces
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 Tbs. butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • coarse salt
  • basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Arrange the dried rice in the bottom of a casserole dish. (8x12, 9x13) Evenly pour the tomato puree over the rice, covering all of it. Season the chicken strips with the Italian seasoning and a pinch of salt. Arrange over the tomatoes and rice. Scatter the torn mozzarella over the dish. Cover and bake for 45 minutes.
  3. While the casserole bakes, combine the panko, melted butter, Italian seasoning and parmesan in a small bowl. Season with a tiny pinch of salt.
  4. Remove the foil and flip the oven to broil. Cook until the cheese is browned and bubbly, only a couple of minutes.
  5. Sprinkle the seasoned panko over the casserole, and broil for about a minute longer, until the panko is golden brown.
  6. Garnish with fresh basil, and DISCOVER A NEW YOU.
  7. And by that I mean, eat.
  8. Serves four.
7.8.1.2
36
https://bevcooks.com/2016/07/italian-chicken-rice-casserole/

Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole / Bev Cooks

You didn’t think I could stick summer in a casserole, did you?

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

, , , , , ,

11 Responses to Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole

  1. Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb July 26, 2016 at 7:53 am #
    i have to share this with my mom...because obviously I will be making one all for myself...because her FAVORITE casseroles were the ones were ya slap everything in and pop it in the oven. This would be heaven for her! And who are we kidding?! me too <3 <3 YUM!
  2. Nicole George July 26, 2016 at 9:58 am #
    This seriously looks incredible! I can't wait to try this. I love the Greek Chicken and Rice Casserole and how easy it is, so this is another win! Thanks for sharing! XO Nicole | www.bynicolegeorge.com
  3. Sarah July 26, 2016 at 11:30 am #
    MUCH EXCITE. I love your casseroles, Bev. Trying this tonight or tomorrow.
    • Sarah July 27, 2016 at 9:12 am #
      Made it last night and loved it! Thinking about maybe trying pasta next time?
  4. Mollie July 26, 2016 at 11:53 am #
    Do you think you could do this with ground beef or meatballs?? (I feel like that is a silly question but as one who's idea of cooking it throwing together a stir fry every night of already cooked things, I need to ask these basic questions) Love this idea...even I can't screw it up :)
    • Bev Weidner July 27, 2016 at 6:32 am #
      I bet you totally could! However, if you're using the beef, I'd brown it first, just to get the good flavor all around. Same with the meatballs. Unless the meatballs are like done like in this recipe of mine (https://bevcooks.com/2015/04/giant-mozzarella-stuffed-meatball-and-pasta-bake/), I'd make sure they were browned first, since they're buried in cheese. Let me know how they turn out!
  5. Amy|The Cook Report July 26, 2016 at 4:11 pm #
    This looks so tasty. Anything with mozarella all over it is a win for me. Loving how easy it is as well, I'm always on the hunt for things I can throw together on a weeknight :)
  6. Steph July 26, 2016 at 9:50 pm #
    I LOVED the Greek one! this sounds so good. You could totally do a series, Greek, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, etc. Mmmm
  7. Terri Morris July 27, 2016 at 10:07 am #
    Sounds scrumptious! I may try it with some sort of pasta/orzo. We've been ricing it up too much over here as of late. :-)
  8. Emily @ Life on Food July 27, 2016 at 12:21 pm #
    This looks so good. If it wasn't a million degrees outside and me without A/C I would be making it this very second. Thank goodness for Pinterest.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. 10 Recipes To Try This Week | ¡HOLA! JALAPEÑO - August 14, 2016 […] Midwest girl in me loves a mean casserole, especially ones that involve a breadcrumb topping. Italian Chicken and Rice Casserole from Bev […]

Leave a Reply