Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

Casseroles are the coziest, most convenient meals and I 100% think they are underrated. My grandma makes the best chicken and rice casserole that I love to eat when I go home. I made a similar version to enjoy this week leading up to the holidays! It’s full of wild rice, chicken, celery, and a homemade sauce similar to cream of mushroom. I always say my best recipes photograph the worst but even though this isn’t the most photogenic casserole I swear it is heavenly - I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

A note about the recipe! You do not have to use Califia Farms Better Half, you can use regular half and half. I do enjoy using it in recipes!

Author: Leslie Bobo, RDN

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Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

This casserole is the perfect cozy yet nourishing meal! Full of wild rice, celery, mushrooms, and juicy chicken - everyone will love it.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast 
• 1 tbsp. avocado oil 
• 2 cups wild rice, rinsed well and drained 
• 3 ribs celery chopped (1 cup)
• 2.5 tbsp. ghee
• 4 oz. cremini mushrooms sliced 
• 1/4 yellow onion chopped fine 
• 2 cloves minced garlic 
• 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth 
• 1/2 cup Califia Farms Better Half 
• 1 tbsp. arrowroot powder + 1 tbsp. warm water
• 1 cup crushed crackers 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cut each chicken breast in half and place in a baking dish. Drizzle with avocado oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for 35 minutes.
3. Prepare rice according to package and set aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp. ghee in a deep skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and let sauté for 5 minutes without stirring.
5. After 5 minutes, stir in the onion, garlic, and celery. Let sauté 3 more minutes over medium heat. 
6. Pour the vegetable broth and the Better Half in with the vegetables and let simmer 5 minutes. 
7. In a small bowl whisk together the warm water and arrowroot powder. Pour it into the skillet to thicken the sauce. Mix it in and let simmer about 1 minute, and then remove the sauce from the heat. 
8. Chop the chicken into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add in the rice and the vegetable sauce from the skillet. Mix well and transfer to a casserole dish. 
9. Melt 1.5 tbsp. ghee and mix it with the crushed crackers. Sprinkle the crackers on top of the casserole.
10. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Broil for 2 minutes at the end to crisp the crackers, but watch them to make sure they don't burn! 

Notes:

You can use regular half and half for this recipe, it does not have to be Califia Farms Better Half.

Did you make this recipe?

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