Baked combination of tender chicken, garlicky butter, and creamy rice. Ready in 60 minutes with single-pan simplicity.
| Prep Time | 20 min | Cook Time | 45 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Servings | 4 | Difficulty | Moderate |
| Cuisine | American | Total Time | 1 hour |
Blends kitchen staples into restaurant-style comfort
The garlic butter baste creates deeply aromatic chicken that pairs perfectly with grains. This technique avoids common casserole pitfalls while maintaining moisture
My kitchen experiments revealed the best moisture retention occurs when searing first and baking second. The rice forms a custard-like layer that ties everything together with creamy texture. This approach negates need for heavy cream while maintaining rich flavor
Essential ingredients and replacements
| Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unsalted butter | 3 tbsp | Use ghee if avoiding dairy |
| Garlic cloves | 4 each | Substitute with 1 tbsp garlic powder |
| Chicken broth | 1 cup | Use vegetable broth for vegetarian version |
Step-by-step preparation
Prep Station
Mix paprika, thyme, pepper in shallow bowl for seasoning
Sealing Flavor
Heat oil in oven-safe skillet until shimmering. Sear chicken breasts 2-3 minutes per side until golden
Flavor Base
Return chicken to same skillet. Melt butter over medium heat. Cook minced garlic to fragrant aroma Print
Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Total Time: 60
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian with substitution
Description
A rich, 1-hour casserole combining seared chicken breasts, aromatic garlic butter, and creamy rice in a single pan for tender, restaurant-style comfort.
Ingredients
4 boneless chicken breasts
2 cups uncooked white rice
3 tbsp unsalted butter (or ghee)
1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
4 garlic cloves (or 1 tbsp garlic powder)
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp oil (e.g., canola or olive) for searing
Instructions
Mix paprika, thyme, and pepper in a bowl for seasoning
Heat oil in an oven-safe skillet until shimmering. Sear chicken breasts 2-3 minutes per side until golden
Return chicken to the skillet. Melt butter over medium heat. Cook minced garlic (or garlic powder) to fragrant
Add uncooked rice, stirring to coat in butter and garlic
Pour in chicken broth. Season with salt (if using unsalted broth) and pepper
Bring to a boil, then transfer to oven. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked and rice is creamy
Notes
Use ghee instead of butter for dairy-free version
Vegetable broth makes this vegetarian-friendly
Sealing chicken first ensures juicy chicken
Rice absorbs liquid as it bakes to form custard-like texture
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 2000mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
