One-Dish Dinner Hack: Chicken, Rice & Cheese That Everyone Raves About

Monday, August 25, 2025

Layer rice, cheddar and chicken, pour on soup and water, bake until juicy — and you’ll have a comforting, little-effort casserole the whole family will ask for again.

One-Dish Dinner Hack: Chicken, Rice & Cheese That Everyone Raves About

My daughter and I love this recipe. She suggested cutting the chicken breasts into bite size pieces and just mixing it all together and I throw in some broccoli as I'm always looking for one dish dinners. Turns out delicious every time

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Spread the rice into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the Cheddar cheese over the rice; season with the ground black pepper and salt. Arrange the chicken evenly atop the rice-cheese layer. Dot the chicken evenly with rounded teaspoons of the cream of chicken soup. Pour the water over the chicken, then sprinkle evenly with the dry onion soup mix.

Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Check the rice for doneness; if the water is already completely absorbed, add 1/2 cup more water to keep the mixture moist. Continue baking until the chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165°F (74°C).

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese over the dish to serve.

Recipe Tip

Use chicken broth in place of water for even more savory flavor.

At-a-glance

Item

Detail

Oven temp

350°F (175°C)

Initial bake

1 hour

Finish bake

~30 minutes more (until chicken reaches 165°F / 74°C)

Bakeware

9 x 13-inch baking dish

Servings / Yield

Not specified in original text

Practical Tips

Tip

Grease the baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Spread rice first, then cheese, then chicken — layer in that order for even cooking.

If water is fully absorbed before rice is done, add ½ cup more water to keep the dish moist.

An instant-read thermometer should register 165°F (74°C) to confirm chicken is fully cooked.

Make it a single-dish dinner: cut chicken into bite-size pieces and mix together; add broccoli for a complete meal.

Use chicken broth instead of water for a richer, more savory result.