Chicken Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole Recipe

Table of Contents

If you’re not sure what to do with the extra 12 oz. can of artichoke hearts sitting in your fridge and you really don’t want to make another spinach artichoke dip, then why not try making casseroles?

This delicious meal is made with chicken, artichokes, spinach, and rice. A serving can give you 6 grams of fiber, which is more or less half your daily dietary fiber needs. It can potentially become the new family favorite and it’s so easy to make you can make it for casual dinner with family.

Despite being easy to make, however, this casserole is decadent enough that you can even serve it at gatherings, office lunches, or even during holidays. To learn how to make this chicken spinach and artichoke rice casserole recipe, read more below.

How to Make Chicken Spinach and Artichoke Rice Casserole

In this recipe, spinach, artichoke, and rice are all readily available ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. The cheese used in this main dish worthy cuisine, (namely mozzarella cheese, cream cheese and parmesan cheese) contribute to the overall texture of the dish.

Prep time:15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6-7 servings

Materials You’ll Need:

Baking dish
Oven
Medium saucepan / large
Skillet
Large bowl
Cooking spray

Ingredients:

3/4 cups basmati rice (or any variety of long-grain white rice)
4 ½ cups chicken breasts, shredded
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 cups fresh spinach
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cups Parmesan, grated
2 cups mozzarella, shredded
6 oz. cream cheese, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced (you can also use 1 tsp garlic powder)
red pepper flakes, crushed
Kosher salt and black pepper, freshly ground
1 1/2 cups chicken stock or broth
6 tbsp all-purpose flour
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
Basil leaves (optional)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is preheating, cook the rice according to the package instructions.
Melt butter in a medium pot. Add flour, salt, onion powder, and ground black pepper. Cook and stir continuously. Continue cooking until the mixture is bubbly. Slowly drizzle in the chicken broth. Remove from heat and set aside.
Place a saucepan on medium heat. Add whole milk and Parmesan cheese. Stir and season with salt and pepper once the cheese has melted. Add in the garlic, cream cheese, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 4 minutes or until cream cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened slightly.
Add chicken, cooked rice, 1 cup mozzarella, flour mixture, cream cheese sauce, spinach, and artichoke hearts in a large mixing bowl. Stir and season with salt and pepper to taste. Combine thoroughly and transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the remaining cheese is melted and brown.
Roughly chop some basil. Sprinkle on top of the chicken artichoke rice casserole. If you want a more cheesy dish, top with remaining cheese.
Serve as a hearty afternoon meal or dinner.

Cooking Notes for Chicken and Spinach Artichoke Rice Casserole Recipe

If you prefer, you can use cauliflower rice and forgo the white rice altogether. To make cauliflower rice, simply shred a few heads of cauliflowers until you have enough for 6-7 servings.
Aside from white rice, you can also use red or wild rice. Brown rice is also a good substitute.
Too many leftovers? You can keep the extra casserole in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two days and freeze for up to a month. Simply reheat in the microwave if you want to eat it.
To make the cooking time for the spinach and artichoke casserole shorter, prepare rice in advance. Cook rice at least 5 hours in advance and keep the cooked rice in an airtight container until ready to use.
Make sure that the artichoke hearts are drained properly before using them in this dish.

Aside from chicken breasts, you can try your hand at using different kinds of meat for this casserole.
Don’t have artichokes in hand? You can use asparagus or bean sprouts as a substitute for artichokes.
For a more creamy texture, you can add sour cream instead of milk. You can add both to the chicken rice casserole if you prefer.
You can use cooked chicken in this dish, just make sure to adjust the bake time of the casserole accordingly.

Final Note

Casserole recipes are the go-to whenever there are occasions where you need to show off some culinary skill. While it may look hard due to the long cooking time and the multitude of ingredients, this casserole is possibly one of the easiest recipes you can make.

For the latest recipes and new posts, you can check out our blog.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What can I pair with this chicken spinach artichoke rice casserole recipe?

This casserole is already a meal on its own, so there’s no need to pair it with other dishes. However, if you prefer to have some side dishes to go with your main course, you can pair it with mashed potatoes and other mild recipes. Because it’s so filling and the flavors are already strong, serving this recipe with other strong-flavored recipes might not be a good idea.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

While rice, chicken, and most brands of cheese are gluten-free, there are no guarantees that all the ingredients used above are. You will have to ensure that the brands you use are certified gluten-free.

What size of baking dish should I use in this recipe?

For this recipe, a 9″ x 13″ baking dish is highly ideal, but you can use any baking dish available in your cupboards.

Can I use other parts of chicken instead of chicken breasts?

Definitely, as long as the chicken is deboned and shredded before you add it to the casserole. You can also add in chopped chickens if you prefer larger meats in your servings.