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Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman

The Pioneer Woman Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is a healthy creamy hot dish full of veggies, long-grain, and wild rice, slivered almonds, and is a yummy way to use up leftover chicken or turkey! The recipe also includes instructions for converting it to gluten-free and vegetarian.

If you want an easy, make-ahead dinner or holiday side, this Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole are ideal, especially since you can assemble it days ahead of time or freeze it, which makes your holidays even easier.

What is Wild Rice?

It’s actually not rice, but aquatic grass! Wild rice is a species of aquatic grass that can be found in the Great Lakes region of North America. Historically, wild rice was a staple of Native American diets in this region, and today, most of the wild rice available in the supermarket comes from specially cultivated fields in Minnesota and California.

If you haven’t tried wild rice before, now is the time! This grain is firm, chewy, nutty-tasting, and higher in protein, making it ideal for salads as well as casseroles like the one you are about to see.

Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman
Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman

Can you Add Uncooked Rice to a Casserole?

No, uncooked rice takes a long time to cook because it needs lots of liquid and steam from a covered pan. If you placed uncooked rice in the dish, the dish would take hours to bake.

Alternatively, you can add a cup of previously cooked wild rice to the finished dish if you have leftovers.

Can you make Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Gluten-Free?

Yes, to make this Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Gluten-Free, You simply need to ensure your rice blend is GF, and then swap out any all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1-to-1 flour.

Can you make Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Vegan?

Making this Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole vegan or vegetarian will make it a bit trickier, but still doable! so here is what you need to do:

  • Remove chicken/turkey and replace with a plant-based protein if desired
  • Vegetable broth can be substituted for chicken broth
  • You can sauté vegetables with a plant-based butter blend or olive oil
  • Check to see if the wild rice mix you’re using is vegan (Lundberg’s is)
  • You can replace half of the half and half with 1/2 coconut cream and 1/2 oat milk, or other plant-based milk

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

  • Rice: The type of rice in wild rice mixtures can vary, as well as the cooking time. For this reason, the rice is pre-cooked to ensure a perfect casserole every time.
  • Chicken: The boneless, skinless chicken breasts are quickly browned before adding them to the mixture. If you have leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken breasts (or shredded chicken), those can also be used.
  • Mushrooms: Mushrooms add a savory earthy flavor to this Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole recipe. We prefer brown or cremini mushrooms. Steamed broccoli can be substituted for mushrooms.
  • Sauce: The sauce in this recipe is easy to make and just needs to be stirred together. You can swap out the cheddar for swiss or your own favorite cheese.

How to freeze Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole?

If you are freezing Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole uncooked, allow it to cool completely before freezing, then wrap tightly with aluminum foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight, and then bake according to recipe instructions.

For cooked Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole, allow cooling completely, wrap in aluminum foil, and seal well. Properly stored, your Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole can last for up to 4 months in the freezer.

To reheat, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F for 30-40 minutes; thawed casserole may be reheated after 30 minutes. Cover up until the last 10 minutes to re-crisp the top.

Can I make this without a food processor?

Yes! A food processor is a great tool to use if you have one. It makes the veggie and breadcrumb preparations very fast and easy, however, you can definitely prepare this recipe with just a cutting board and a good kitchen knife.

To prepare the veggies, dice the carrots, celery, and mushrooms to your desired size. As for the breadcrumbs, simply chop them into small, bite-sized pieces and crumbs.

Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman
Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman

How To Make Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole?

  1. Prepare the long grain and wild rice according to the package directions, and in the meantime prepare your ingredients.
  2. Now you want to preheat your oven to 400 F degrees, then grease or butter a 2 qt casserole.
  3. In a large saucepan or skillet, melt butter; add chopped onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper and cook for one minute.
  4. Stir in half-and-half and chicken broth for about five minutes until thickened.
  5. Next, go ahead and add chicken, stirring to coat, and toss in chopped almonds, pimientos, and fresh parsley.
  6. Add pre-cooked long grain and wild rice mix, and stir to combine. Pour into buttered or greased 2 qt casserole dish and smooth. If desired, top with crispy fried onions.
  7. Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes.

What do you serve with Pioneer Woman Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole?

Recipe Tips

  • Try including carrots in your onion and celery mixture, creating a classic Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole.
  • Instead of chicken or turkey, try cooked breakfast sausage or hamburger ground.
  • Rather than pimento, dice a red, orange, or yellow pepper and sauté with the onion mixture. Or use roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes!
  • If you do not have fresh parsley, substitute 3 teaspoons of dried parsley.
  • If you cannot find the brands of long grain and wild rice mentioned, this recipe can be made with Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice mix, or with your favorite, if it’s within a few ounces of the other one.
  • In addition to the other rice, add up to 1 cup of prepared wild rice.
  • Olive or avocado oil can be substituted for butter when sauteing the veggies.
  • Instead of half and half, use milk.
  • You can also add walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans – or you can leave them out altogether.

FAQ Section

How to make Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole ahead?

Assemble the entire Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole and cover well. The casserole keeps up to one week in the fridge and for up to six months frozen. Remove from the fridge while the oven preheats, uncover and bake according to the instructions.

How long does leftover Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole last?

Properly stored, your Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole can last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge, and 4 to 6 months in the freezer.

Where can I find the long grain and wild rice mix?

In most supermarkets, you’ll find this in the quick meals or boxed rice aisle. Remember the old Rice-A-Roni sides mom used to make? That’s what you’re looking for. I typically use Uncle Ben’s brand, but store brands work as well. Just make sure to grab the 6 oz box!

Can chicken thighs be used instead?

Yes! When making Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole, use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Do I have to use an oven-safe pan or skillet?

The Pioneer Woman Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole can also be baked in a lightly greased 9×13 inch casserole dish instead of an oven-safe skillet or pan.

Can I make this chicken wild rice casserole in advance?

Pioneer Woman Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cover with foil and refrigerate until it’s time to bake. Just keep in mind that a refrigerated casserole will take longer to cook. As an alternative, you can bake the casserole, store it covered in the refrigerator, and then reheat it quickly in the microwave or oven.

Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman
Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman

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Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

  • Calories 334.2
  • Total Fat 5g
  • Saturated Fat 1.1g
  • Cholesterol 73.8mg
  • Sodium 1059.5mg
  • Potassium 259.5mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 38.2g
  • Dietary Fiber 1.6g
  • Sugars 2.4g
  • Protein 32.3g
  • Vitamin A 1.3%
  • Vitamin C 6.6%
  • Calcium 5.5%
  • Iron 12.1%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source

Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 20 minutesCook time: 30 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time: 50 minutesServings:6 servingsCalories:334.2 kcal Best Season:Available

Description

The Pioneer Woman Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is a healthy creamy hot dish full of veggies, long-grain, and wild rice, slivered almonds, and is a yummy way to use up leftover chicken or turkey! The recipe also includes instructions for converting it to gluten-free and vegetarian.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Prepare the long grain and wild rice according to the package directions, and in the meantime prepare your ingredients.
  2. Now you want to preheat your oven to 400 F degrees, then grease or butter a 2 qt casserole.
  3. In a large saucepan or skillet, melt butter; add chopped onion and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper and cook for one minute.
  4. Stir in half-and-half and chicken broth for about five minutes until thickened.
  5. Next, go ahead and add chicken, stirring to coat, toss in chopped almonds, pimientos, and fresh parsley.
  6. Add pre-cooked long grain and wild rice mix, stir to combine. Pour into buttered or greased 2 qt casserole dish and smooth. If desired, top with crispy fried onions.
  7. Bake, uncovered for 30 minutes.

Notes

  • Try including carrots in your onion and celery mixture, creating a classic Pioneer Woman Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole.
  • Instead of chicken or turkey, try cooked breakfast sausage or hamburger ground.
  • Rather than pimento, dice a red, orange, or yellow pepper and sauté with the onion mixture. Or use roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes!
  • If you do not have fresh parsley, substitute 3 teaspoons dried parsley.
  • If you cannot find the brands of long grain and wild rice mentioned, this recipe can be made with Uncle Ben’s Long Grain & Wild Rice mix, or with your favorite, if it’s within a few ounces of the other one.
  • In addition to the other rice, add up to 1 cup of prepared wild rice.
  • Olive or avocado oil can be substituted for butter when sauteing the veggies.
  • Instead of half and half, use milk.
  • You can also add walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans – or you can leave them out altogether.
Keywords:Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole Pioneer Woman, Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole
Nutrition Facts

Servings 6


Amount Per Serving
Calories 334.2
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1.1g6%
Cholesterol 73.8mg25%
Sodium 1059.5mg45%
Potassium 259.5mg8%
Total Carbohydrate 38.2g13%
Dietary Fiber 1.6g7%
Sugars 2.4g
Protein 32.3g65%

Vitamin A 1.3 IU
Vitamin C 6.6 mg
Calcium 5.5 mg
Iron 12.1 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.