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Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole with Crispy Bacon

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This creamy chicken and wild rice casserole is the ultimate comfort food, featuring juicy chicken, a hearty wild rice blend, a velvety sauce, and a golden, crunchy bacon topping. Perfect for cozy family dinners, potlucks, or make-ahead meals, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to adapt and even better as leftovers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked and shredded chicken breast or thighs (about 1 lb)
  • 2 cups cooked wild rice blend
  • 8 slices crispy bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 medium carrots, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk (or 2%)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

  1. Cook wild rice according to package instructions (about 45 minutes).
  2. Cook chicken by poaching, roasting, or use rotisserie; shred or chop into bite-size pieces.
  3. Fry bacon in a large skillet until crispy; drain and crumble. Reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat if desired.
  4. Chop onion, celery, carrots, and mince garlic.
  5. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, and carrots; sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  6. Sprinkle flour over veggies; stir and cook for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and milk. Simmer, stirring, until thickened (about 3-4 minutes).
  8. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, thyme, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  9. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice, chicken, sautéed veggies with sauce, mozzarella, half the bacon, and half the parsley. Mix gently.
  10. Spread mixture evenly into a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.
  11. Sprinkle remaining bacon and parsley on top.
  12. Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Tent with foil if bacon browns too quickly.
  13. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and vegan cheese. Add extra veggies like spinach or peas for color. Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate; add 10 minutes to bake time if cold. Leftovers reheat well and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken casserole, wild rice, bacon bake, comfort food, easy dinner, make ahead, family meal, creamy casserole, potluck recipe

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/creamy-chicken-and-wild-rice-casserole-recipe-easy-bacon-bake/