Description
Mamaw’s Chicken and Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, cheesy, and finished with a buttery cracker topping that gets golden and crisp in the oven. It’s a Southern family classic that’s easy to prepare, freezer-friendly, and perfect for feeding a crowd or making ahead.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 cups cooked white rice
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup melted butter
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional: chopped green onions or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cooked rice, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until fully incorporated.
3. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter.
5. Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
6. Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese.
7. Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
8. Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley before serving, if desired.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add ½ cup of milk to the mixture before baking.
Swap out Ritz crackers for crushed cornflakes or French fried onions for a different texture.
This casserole freezes well—just cover tightly and bake straight from frozen at 375°F for 45–50 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken casserole, creamy rice casserole, Mamaw recipes