This Cheesy Chicken Bacon and Rice Casserole is so delicious and easy to prepare. It’s perfect for busy weeknights, but it would also make a great breakfast or lunch!
Cheesy Chicken Bacon and Rice Casserole
This dinner makes me so happy. It’s pure comfort food in a skillet, so you might want to make it asap for your family. You are likely to have most of the ingredients in your pantry which is always nice! I honestly use my cast iron skillet on a weekly basis. They run about $20 bucks!
This is a nice and thick rice dish that is hearty and rich. I like to top mine with a few dashes of hot sauce, oh baby it’s good! Hope you enjoy friends 🙂
Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe
Let’s render the bacon. I chose the applewood smoked bacon, highly recommend it!
Nice and crispy 🙂
You guys are going to be pros at making roux, I’ve been using my cheese sauce so much lately.
Whisk in the flour, salt and pepper then slowly whisk in the chicken broth.
Once the chicken broth is nice and thick, add your cheese. Mix until smooth.
Add a few dashes of hot sauce. Any of your favorite brand works.
Give a nice stir.
Once your bacon fat is drained from skillet, add 2 tablespoons back to pan and add your cooked rice.
Add 2 cups cooked shredded chicken.
Time to add the cheese sauce baby!
Give a nice mix.
Add a little more cheese on top.
Like so.
Now…add that cooked, crumbled bacon to the top and place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
Ahhhh, there we go 🙂 Enjoy!
Tips for Making this Cheesy Chicken Casserole
*Rotisserie chicken works great in this recipe and saves cooking time.
*Pre-cook your bacon or use microwave bacon for extra time saving.
*Add your favorite chopped vegetables to the rice, any of your favorites taste great! I’d give them a quick saute before adding.
Cheesy Chicken Bacon and Rice Casserole
Equipment
- Stove
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Applewood Smoked Bacon
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 4 cups steamed white rice
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Render bacon, drain and set aside. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings.
- Place butter into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted whisk in flour, and pepper until smooth and bubbly. Slowly whisk in chicken broth. Increase heat to high whisking broth until thickened. Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese. Stir in hot sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer and set aside.
- Place reserved 2 tablespoons bacon drippings back to cast iron skillet. Stir in cooked rice. Add chicken and cheese sauce, mixing to combine. Top with 1 cup cheddar cheese then top with crumbled cooked bacon. Place under oven's broiler for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.
Holy moly Jenny…. this looks insanely cheesy and good!
Omg…i look and ths and die… So yummy!!!
This looks soooo good I can’t even talk right now. Wow, super easy too. Love that cute little cast iron skillet for this recipe too. great post.
OH MY! Give me bacon, cheese and a cast iron skillet … I am a happy girl!
All that bacon looks delicious!!
This looks so great Jenny! Who doesn’t love an uber bacony topping with cheesy rice and chicken?! I would have more than 2 bowls, for sure!
This looks fantastic! I’m going to make it for dinner tonight š
Just an FYI – when I printed it via clicking your print button, that version is missing the 2 cups of chicken in the ingredient list.
Just noticed that mine did that, too! I was wondering where the chicken was in the dish.
Yum-o comfort food!
I love the cheese and the crispy bacon on top. With some hot sauce…. getting a growl from my stomach. Delicious! =)
Looks yummy! Thanks for telling me what’s for supper this weekend! BTW, when you print the recipe, the ads DO print. Just FYI. I am also going to try this with brown rice…boost the health factor a bit……’cuz I might add a slice or 2 or 3 more of bacon. š
Hmmm, you do like your cheese, don’t you! And now you’ve added bacon. Gotta taste good.
Keep writing…
I would really love to make this for dinner tonight! Loving this!
Are you kidding me? This looks insanely delicious, like all my favorite foods in one crazy and simple dish! Thanks so much Jenny!
Bacon, cheese, chicken and rice? Yes, please. This looks super-filling and comforting. Thanks for the idea.
I have the same exact skillet as you do and just got it for my birthday a few months ago!!! I can’t wait to try this recipe Jenny! Thanks for sharing it. Your pictures are such a tease š
What size skillet did you use?
I am going to have to make this for my kids! Hope you’re dong well! Miss you
This looks amazing! Perfect for my weekend decadent dinners š
Yum! This looks great! Putting this on my list. P.S. I love your design and cannot wait for your cookbook!
I’ve never done this with bacon before, only ground beef. I may have to switch the ground beef out for bacon after this post!
Dinner perfection. I’m sort of in love with rice bakes. With bacon? Oh my.
This looks amazing! Your chicken looks seasoned, can I ask how you prepared your chicken for this dish? Thanks!
Looks fantastic! It’s difficult to go wrong with cheese, bacon, chicken, and rice. All wins for me.
YUM this sounds good! I love that cheesy rice. I wonder if it’d be good with those diced breakfast potatoes w/peppers instead of rice? =)
I bet that would be delicious Rachelle!!
I am DROOLING. This looks DIVINE. Looks like it would also kill me with the amount of fat in it (me and fat aren’t friends these days, not by choice either, by way of my fat-digesting organ no longer being a part of me) but perhaps I could make it for my family and take some small nibbles. That’d be okay, right?
I have to try this weekend!!!! Looks so good and you are right I have everything!!!!
Oh my heavens. All of that bacon and cheese look like HEAVEN!
Thanks Ali!
Definitely going to have to make this one! Looks like I need to go purchase a cast iron skillet! š
I highly recommend getting a cast iron skillet Jennifer! I love mine!
Sounds amazing with all that BACON! Mmmm….
Whoa. I want this, like right this very second. I know I will be dreaming about it ALL day!
I have not even had breakfast yet, and now all I want is a big plate of this. It looks delicious!
now this is what i call comfort food! š looks delicious jenny!
Thanks Jenna!!
You’re killing me with these cheesy savory I WANT 13 BOWLS OF THAT dinners, girl.
But really, about those 13 bowls.
You got it girl š Comin’ right up!
Mmm, it’s like chicken bog meets bacon breakfast!!! š Looks fantastic!
I don’t know what chicken bog is but it sounds like I would like it š
Oooh, I love a dinner that only dirties up one pan! AND… I ALWAYS have leftover rice & chicken. š Thank you!
Wow…wonderful recipe and great pics. I just wanna grab that bowl š
Thank you!!
Holy tamoly, this looks AMAZING! I want to dive right into that frying pan! (As long as it’s cooled down a little. I mean, I’m not crazy…) Also, do you remember where you bought that bowl? I love it!
Hahah! Dive right in girl!