Easy Baked Chicken Rice Pilaf for Freezing and Meal Prep

This baked Chicken Rice Pilaf is a crazy quick and easy casserole recipe! It’s easy to assemble, freezer-friendly, and packed with flavor. Learn how to make it fresh, portion it for two, or prep and freeze it for later (which is my favorite thing, you know!).

Back when I was cooking for our family with busy little boys at home, I discovered a Simple Chicken Rice Casserole recipe in a Company’s Coming cookbook by Jean Paré. Back then, lots of my mom friends -and me! – went absolutely crazy over her recipes. I found it one evening when I was desperately looking for something quick and easy for dinner. The kids loved it, and I was thrilled to have a recipe that worked so well.

Fast forward to now when I was reminded of that recipe from a little homemade recipe book given to me by a friend, calling it a “fantastic freeze-ahead meal”. I was curious—could I really freeze a recipe with uncooked rice? Turns out, it works like a charm! This is a recipe you definitely should keep stored in your “keeper box”, since it has SO many options. You can bake it right away, divide it for smaller portions, or prep it as a freezer meal for those busy days ahead. I’ll give you all the details below.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Rice Casserole Recipe

• Quick to prepare: You can get this assembled in a casserole dish in just a few minutes!
• Customizable: Easily portion it for a family, for two, or use it as a great meal prep freeze ahead meal.
• Freezer-friendly: I just loved adding this one to my collection of freezer meal recipes!
• Delicious: The combination of tender chicken, creamy rice, and flavorful seasonings is always a hit.

Ingredients for Baked Chicken Rice Pilaf

For exact measurements and instructions, check out the full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Juicy and tender protein for the dish.
• Long grain white rice: The perfect base for absorbing all the delicious flavors.
• Chicken broth: Adds savory depth to the rice and chicken.
• Dry onion soup mix: A convenient way to pack in seasoning.
• Cream of mushroom soup: Creamy goodness that ties everything together.
• Salt, pepper, and paprika: Enhances the flavor with a little extra flair.

How to Portion, Cook, and Freeze This Recipe to Fit Your Lifestyle

Cooking isn’t one-size-fits-all, and this recipe is wonderfully flexible. Whether you’re cooking for a family, prepping ahead, or cooking for two, here are some different options you can choose from to make it work for you:

• For Two People: Cut the recipe in half or divide it into two smaller pans. Bake one now and freeze the other for later. Or freeze both for later if you are freezing a bunch of meals for later. Note: Smaller portions may cook faster, so check on them before the full bake time is up.
• To Freeze Ahead: Assemble the recipe completely (but don’t bake it). Cover tightly with plastic wrap first, then foil, label it, and freeze for up to 3 months. (My favorite containers are listed below.)
• To Bake After Freezing: Thaw overnight on the bottom shelf of the fridge, then bake as directed.

Favorite Cookware for 2!

If you’re cooking for 2, treat yourself to the perfect sized pans! You can find my favorites in my Amazon shop here on Amazon USA or Amazon Canada. (They are affilate links.)

Simple Instructions for Making Chicken Rice Pilaf

(For all the detailed instructions, refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

Helpful Tips When Making This Recipe

• Rinse the rice thoroughly to clean it off well and also prevent it from becoming gummy. (I had a friend once tell me that if I ever watched rice being harvested and packaged, I would ALWAYS rinse my rice! I have since always done so!;))
• Use homemade chicken broth or use chicken boullion powder and water to make the amount you need.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil to keep the rice moist during baking. Or if you want the chicken a bit more brown, leave the cover off for the last 15 minutes of baking or for the whole time baking. It will result in a big “dryer” overall casserole – but you may prefer that!
• I like to cut skinless boneless chicken breasts in half horizontally for two reasons:
  1. It makes better portion sizes for me personally.
  2. It takes less time to bake through.
• If you are making a smaller batch of this recipe, check at the 45 minute mark to see how it is coming along. Bake time will be shorter with less portions to cook through.

Substitutions and Variations for this Chicken Rice Pilaf Recipe

• Swap cream of mushroom soup for cream of chicken soup for a very slightly different flavor.
• Try brown rice instead of white rice- but it may take a bit longer to cook all the way through.

Grandma Rita’s Kitchen Tips

As you become more comfortable in the kitchen, don’t be afraid to experiment and stray from the exact recipe! If you’re missing an ingredient, take the initiative to find a substitution—you might discover a variation you love even more. Pay attention to how your “tweaks” affect the overall recipe, and jot down notes about what worked well (or didn’t) for next time. Over time, these experiments will build your skills and boost your confidence in cooking!

Side Dishes to Serve with This Recipe

• Any green veggies would be delicious and add pretty color to your plate – like brocolli, green beans, or asperegus.
• Green tossed salad or spinach salad with strawberries and this creamy poppy seed dressing recipe is delicious.
• Some kind of bread side is a comorting side dish that goes well with casseroles like this. You can choose bread machine crescent rolls, the old fashioned dinner bun recipe that I made these ham and cheese buns with, fluffy baking powder biscuits, or classic sourdough in dutch oven bread.
• Orange Fluff Salad My mom used to serve casseroles with jello or a “salad” like orange fluff salad. It would be delicious, and take you back in time!

Other Casserole Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• This chicken casserole with swiss cheese and stuffing is wildly popular!
• You can get this easy orzo chicken casserole recipe mixed together and in the oven in just a few minutes!
• In a hurry? Baked Feta Chicken Pasta can be assembled and in the oven in just a few minutes.
• Leftover turkey casserole can be mixed together in just a few minutes using leftover turkey or cooked diced chicken your favorite pasta and a few other ingredients. It’s creamy, cheesy, and delicious!
• Hamburger casserole with biscuits is a great “shortcut” recipe that uses canned biscuits
• Chicken divan with curry is a fancy name for Chicken Brocolli casserole. Even people who think they don’t like brocolli like this!!;)
• Cheeseburger casserole with biscuits was a childhood favorite for me and my kids.

Don’t lose track of this recipe! Save it on Pinterest so it’s ready when you need it. Follow me on Pinterest for even more meal ideas and inspiration for your home.