Description
Hearty pioneer woman chicken rice casserole combines creamy textures with comforting midwest flavors. Home cooks will appreciate this simple, satisfying meal that brings warmth to family dinner tables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
- 6 oz (170 g) Gruyere cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (60 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 ½ cups wild rice, whole and uncracked
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 4 large carrots, peeled and sliced ¼-inch thick
- 4 stalks celery, sliced ¼-inch thick
- 16 oz (454 g) button mushrooms, sliced ¼-inch thick
- 3 cups English muffin bread, cut into ½-inch pieces
- 10 tbsps (141 g) unsalted butter
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ⅔ cup half-and-half
- 3 tbsps soy sauce
- 2 tbsps fresh parsley, minced (plus more for garnish)
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, minced (plus more for garnish)
- 1 ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Rice Preparation: Cook wild rice until grains split and curl, revealing a tender core. Drain thoroughly and reserve.
- Vegetable Sauté: Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sauté mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery until vegetables soften and become translucent, releasing their rich, savory essence.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce minced garlic and cook briefly to activate its fragrant notes. Dust vegetables with flour, stirring meticulously to create a smooth coating and eliminate raw flour taste.
- Sauce Development: Gradually incorporate chicken broth, stirring continuously to prevent lumps. Simmer until the mixture thickens and achieves a velvety consistency. Blend in half-and-half cream to elevate the sauce’s luxurious texture.
- Seasoning Fusion: Infuse the sauce with soy sauce, fresh parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Fold in cooked wild rice and cubed chicken, ensuring uniform distribution. Integrate Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
- Casserole Assembly: Transfer the mixture to a casserole dish. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes until edges bubble with anticipation. Artfully arrange bread cubes across the surface, drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with additional Parmesan.
- Final Baking: Return to oven uncovered, baking for 15 minutes until bread cubes transform into golden-brown perfection and the casserole bubbles with intense flavor. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately, celebrating the dish’s aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Achieve Wild Rice Perfection: Cook rice until grains split and curl into a “C” shape for the ideal texture and tenderness.
- Vegetable Sauté Secrets: Take time to slowly cook vegetables until soft and translucent, which builds deep flavor foundations for the casserole.
- Sauce Thickening Technique: Cook flour-coated vegetables briefly to eliminate raw flour taste and create a smooth, rich sauce base.
- Crispy Topping Trick: Expose bread cube edges when sprinkling on top to ensure maximum golden-brown crunchiness and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg