Have you ever heard of buffalo chicken with rice? I have, and let me tell ya, it’s delicious! In this post I’ll tell ya what I think of buffalo chicken with rice. I’ll also link to some great recipes. It’s got your mouth watering just thinking about it, doesn’t it?
This dish is sure to be a crowd pleaser, and will satisfy anyone that likes spicy food. Chicken thighs are perfectly cooked and tender for this recipe, and are paired perfectly with the rice and sauce. This buffalo chicken is really easy to make, using only a few ingredients.
Buffalo Chicken With Rice
Hello, guys! In case you didn’t notice. I kind of adore rice recipes with cream. Something about them just shouts “comfort” to me. last year when I published Mom’s Chicken and Rice. I never anticipated using that recipe as the foundation for so many other creamy, warm rice casseroles. It has been the perfect foundation for many of my other favorite dishes, including Beef & Rice Taco Casserole and one of my more recent recipes, Cajun Chicken, Sausage, and Rice. I am SO glad that my mom created that dish for our family when I was growing up! If this is your first trip here, you absolutely must try these dishes because they are all hugely popular on this tiny blog! A few weeks ago, I discovered that I hadn’t posted many “Buffalo Chicken” dishes on my site. Truth: I adore buffalo chicken. When we go out to eat, it’s virtually always my go-to. Although I have a recipe for a very delicious Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Wrap uploaded, I wanted to share something a little more suitable for a family dinner. These rice casseroles are incredibly simple to assemble any night of the week, as you will know if you’ve prepared the previous rice casseroles, which I hope you have. These do take longer to cook than the majority of my recipes, but they just take a few minutes to put together and bake. You may spend that hour cooking a delicious side dish or just relaxing with your family. I can’t tell you how many busy evenings these rice casseroles have kept me alive. This is great if you like buffalo chicken! I swear. Do this, everyone, and do it soon!
Additionally, this weekend is Halloween! happy spooky season To be quite honest, I’m not very good at organizing ahead of time and providing “themed” cuisine. I sincerely sorry. I’m working hard to improve, and hopefully one day soon, but regretfully not today. As a result of the buffalo sauce, it does have an orange hue. So that’s similar to a pumpkin, which is basically what Halloween is, right? So that I may feel better and be more organized with my life and this blog, I’ll go with that.
I am TRYING to prepare for the Holiday season coming up and working on some super yummy recipes.
Buffalo Chicken and Rice
INGREDIENTS
- 2 lbs chicken breast raw and cut into pieces
- 1 cup long grain, white rice uncooked (not instant)
- 3-4 tbs hot wing buffalo sauce preferably Frank’s
- 1 packet ranch dressing and seasoning packet i use hidden valley
- 1 cup chicken broth, low sodium
- 1 10.5 ounce can 98% fat free cream of chicken or celery condensed soup
- 2 stalks celery finely chopped
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- cooking spray
optional
- cheddar cheese
- chopped green onions
INSTRUCTIONS
- Turn on the 375 degree oven.
- Cooking spray should be used sparingly while cooking chopped celery and onion in a skillet over medium-high heat. (5 to 7 minutes)
- Cooking spray should be used on a 3-quart or 9-by-13-inch dish. Add the rice, condensed soup, ranch seasoning packet, buffalo sauce, celery, onions, and chicken broth. Mix everything together thoroughly.
- To ensure that the rice cooks properly with the casserole, cover it completely with aluminum foil. Please use tin foil even if the casserole dish has a lid.
- Rice should be cooked after one hour in a preheated oven.
- If desired, add cheese, green onions, and additional hot sauce on the top. Enjoy!
NOTES
Suggested serving size: 1 and 1/4 cups
4 Freestyle Smart Points (calculated with Weight Watchers Recipe Builder)
7 Smart Points (calculated with Weight Watchers Recipe Builder)
7 Points Plus (nutritional information calculated with My Score Plus)
322 calories, 3g fat, 1g saturated fat, 31.6g carbohydrates, 1.4g fiber, 1.8g sugar, 38g protein (calculated with My Fitness Pal)
Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Your favorite elements of buffalo chicken are combined in a nutritious casserole dish for warm and cozy buffalo chicken casserole. topped with shredded cheese after being stuffed with shredded chicken, rice, vegetables, and a tasty buffalo sauce. It produces a tasty and filling one-pan dish that can be prepared in 30 minutes and is ideal for dinner or a party!
Prep : 5 mins
Cook : 25 mins
Total Time : 30 mins
Serves : 4
Your favorite elements of buffalo chicken are combined in Simple Buffalo Chicken Casserole, a hearty and reassuring chicken casserole recipe. topped with shredded cheese after being stuffed with shredded chicken, rice, vegetables, and a tasty buffalo sauce. It produces a tasty and filling one-pan dish that can be prepared in 30 minutes and is ideal for dinner or a party!
Recently, I’ve been on a healthy casserole and skillet frenzy. My favorites are the steak and sweet potato skillet and the jalapeño popper chicken casserole. and I can’t wait to share my most recent version. Introducing this quick and wholesome buffalo chicken rice casserole!
I struggled to determine whether to name this dish a skillet or a casserole. It contains protein, vegetables, starch, cheese, and sauce, which are all essential components of a casserole. Nevertheless, once it is cooked on the stove (in only 30 minutes! ), it comes together more like a skillet. The best of both worlds is truly present.
You are probably well aware of my obsession with all things buffalo chicken, which includes burgers, sweet potatoes that have been stuffed, soup, and traditional buffalo chicken tenders. One of my favorite flavor combos, with countless variations.
All the best elements of buffalo chicken are essentially combined in this simple chicken casserole to create a warm and inviting one-pan dinner that is also nutritious. It contains protein, complex and simple carbohydrates from the vegetables and rice, as well as good fats from the cheese and buffalo sauce.
It is hearty, filling, utterly wonderful, and totally satisfying when you’re seeking something warm and cozy but want to keep it simple, nutritious, and quick!
buffalo chicken casserole with rice
This flavorful, 30-minute recipe for healthy buffalo chicken only requires one pan. Making it couldn’t be simpler, and you probably already have the necessary items in your cupboard. It’s ideal for a quick dinner, meal preparation, or dish on game day.
Buffalo chicken and rice casserole ingredients:
- ghee
- onion
- carrots
- celery
- bell pepper
- white rice
- shredded chicken
- broth
- buffalo sauce
- cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper
A large cast-iron pan or an enameled cast-iron pan should first be filled with ghee and heated up. With a little salt and pepper, add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for five minutes, or until tender. The peppers should then be added and cooked for 3–4 minutes, or until just softened.
After that, blend the rice and chicken thoroughly. Buffalo sauce and broth are then added. Make sure everything is thoroughly combined and nothing is left on the bottom by mixing thoroughly. Put a lid on top of it. Let it to simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the lid, add the cheese, replace the lid, reduce the heat to low, and let the cheese to melt.
how to make shredded chicken
We frequently keep shredded chicken on hand in our home. That makes it really simple weeknight meals and for making this buffalo chicken casserole so straightforward. The Instant Pot has recently been my preferred method, although the slow cooker can also be used.
Chicken breasts can also be boiled in water until fully done, then shredded once they have cooled. Or you can grill or roast in the oven. If I don’t keep an eye on them, I do notice that they can dry out a little this way.
You can also use a pre-rotisserie chicken from the shop if you don’t want to or have time to prepare your own chicken shreds.
what to serve with buffalo chicken casserole
There is really no wrong way to serve this chicken and rice casserole. It makes a balanced meal on its own, but can be served with a few things as well.
- serve with a side salad or some roasted veggies
- with chips – corn or plantain are my favorites
- cut-up veggies – I love carrots, peppers, celery, and cucumbers
- toppings – more buffalo/hot sauce, ranch or blue cheese, avocado, green onion, cilantro, yogurt, or sour cream
meal prep options
The thing I love most about this healthy chicken casserole is it is so easy to throw together. Depending on how much prep you want to do, you can either meal prep it all or just a few components. Here are a few suggestions for prepping and storage:
- partial prep – cook the veggies and prep your shredded chicken. Store in the fridge until you are ready to make. When you are ready, add them to a hot greased pan, mix in the rice and the remaining ingredients, and cook according to the directions.
- full prep – just follow the directions as written.
- storage and heating them up – allow to completely cool and move to a resealable glass dish. To heat it up, pop in the microwave for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
- best storage containers – we love these meal prep containers from Amazon are great! Cut the casserole, allow it to cool completely, and then store it in individual containers to take on the go. They keep everything fresh and are better for the environment since they are glass.
how to freeze
- to freeze after baking – Bake the dish as directed and let it cool fully. The entire casserole can be frozen, or it can be divided into serving-sized portions and frozen separately. To accomplish this, either individually wrap each one in foil or plastic wrap, or freeze them in glass containers. It will be difficult to freeze a skillet until you transfer it to a large container, so I advise freezing each item separately. It can be frozen for up to three months. When you’re ready to consume it, put it in the refrigerator to defrost. When you’re ready to eat, heat.
substitutions for chicken and rice casserole
I haven’t tested this recipe any other way, but here are a few substitutions that I think will work!
- ghee – butter or oil work the same
- shredded chicken – you can use ground chicken instead of shredded if you like. If using ground, add once the carrots and onion mixture is slightly softened and cook until browned. Follow the rest of the directions as written. You can also use shredded chicken thighs instead of breasts.
- veggies – any kind of veggies will work to add to this casserole. You can add more carrots, celery, and onion, or swap them with something else. The more the merrier, just make sure they are cut in a uniform size.
- rice – if you want to make this low carb, you can swap out the white rice for cauliflower rice. See below for directions.
- buffalo sauce – homemade or store-bought will work interchangeably for this recipe. I prefer homemade as it has more flavor.
- broth – any kind of broth will work (chicken, beef, turkey, or veggie) or bone broth will also work. You could also use water if you don’t have any broth, it just won’t be as flavorful.
- cheese – use dairy-free or leave it off
to make it low carb
You may substitute cauliflower rice for the white rice in this recipe if you want to make it low carb. Although I haven’t tried it, it ought to be effective.
I would advise using 3–4 cups of cauliflower rice for this. Add the cauliflower rice and peppers and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the cauliflower rice is tender, after the carrots, onion, and celery have softened. Mix thoroughly after adding the chicken and buffalo sauce.
The broth won’t need to be added. Cauliflower rice doesn’t absorb liquid as well as white rice, so you can add a dash of broth if necessary to prevent it from drying up. Add cheese on top and allow to melt.
As rice has a fairly bland flavor, the addition of cauliflower may somewhat alter the taste. By using cauliflower, you may drastically minimize the total amount of carbohydrates in this dish.
SKILLET BUFFALO RANCH CHICKEN AND RICE RECIPE
This dish for Buffalo Ranch Chicken and Rice can become one of your new go-tos for dinner or breakfast! It only takes 30 minutes and one skillet to make this perennial family favorite!
ALL OF YOU! Have a look at this skillet of buffalo chicken and rice! We really like this recipe, so I’m thrilled to share it with you! This was initially intended to be a slow cooker dish, but folks were reporting varying degrees of success with their personal slow cookers. It’s still quite simple even if I changed the recipe to fit a skillet.
I’m sorry to disappoint if you came here searching for a crockpot dish, but once you prepare this stovetop meal, I don’t think you’ll be dissatisfied AT ALL. Although I take great delight in providing you with easy meal recipes that are always a hit at your family, I knew we had a problem when several reviewers complained that their rice was either undercooked or overcooked when they attempted the crockpot version.
Giving you a cook time between 4 and 8 hours depending on your crockpot just isn’t useful, in my opinion, because cooking rice in a slow cooker is just too dependant on the cooking temps of specific appliances. It takes a half-hour to prepare and the cooktop directions are still pretty straightforward.
Since they come together quickly and give you more control over the time, I actually prefer one-pan, stovetop meals. Everything will turn out perfectly if you cook it for the ideal length of time. I want you to adore all of my simple dinner dishes!
Unexpectedly, my 10-year-old son was eager to try the buffalo chicken rice and declared it to be the best meal ever. I would have reduced the amount of wing sauce a little bit if I had known he would want to test it. Despite the heat, he took a few bites.
Adding more or less hot sauce is a relatively simple way to change the level of heat. The recipe allows you to use as much or as little cheese as you wish. I might have added a little extra to the recipe to make the pictures look extra appetizing.
Although I plan to manufacture my own powdered ranch dressing mix, I currently used the prepackaged variety. It appears costly at first, but I bought a large jar of it because it lasts so long! A regular-sized dressing mix packet also works. This cheesy chicken and rice recipe is so, so delicious, especially with the buffalo and ranch tastes. You’ll adore it, I’m sure of it. Please let me know how it went by leaving a comment:)
HOW TO MAKE BUFFALO RANCH CHICKEN AND RICE:
Buffalo Ranch Chicken and Rice
This might be your new favorite dinner recipe! Only needs one pot and 30 minutes and always a family favorite!
| Prep Time5 minutes Cook Time8 hours ServingsMetricUS ImperialINGREDIENTS2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts4 cups chicken broth2/3 cup Buffalo wing sauce (adjust amount to taste)3 tablespoons ranch dressing mix (or 1 oz. packet)2 cups white rice1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese (or more to taste)sliced green onions optional |  |
INSTRUCTIONS
- Make bite-sized chicken pieces out of raw chicken.
- Cooking spray should be used to coat a dutch oven or other large, deep pot. On a medium-high heat, warm. Add the chicken, and sauté for a few minutes to brown the outside of the meat.
- Add the ranch dressing, wing sauce, and broth. a low boil is reached. Add uncooked rice and stir. Lower the temperature to a low simmer. For 20 minutes, cook covered.
- Lift the cover, then stir. At this point, the rice needs to be cooked and the liquid absorbed. If not, let the rice simmer for a few more minutes to finish cooking.
- Add cheese and stir. If preferred, top with more cheese and thinly sliced green onions.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Place WHOLE chicken breasts into slow cooker.
- Pour in broth, wing sauce, dressing mix, and BROWN rice.
- Cook on low 6-8 hours until rice is cooked completely. Shred chicken, and stir in cheese. Sprinkle individual servings with additional cheese and green onions if desired.
RECIPE NOTES
- I recommend the stovetop method for perfect results.
- Crockpot cooking times vary by appliance. I recommend checking your rice after four hours but allowing up to eight hours the first time you make this recipe in the slow cooker.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHICKEN
Chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats in the world. It is a versatile food that can be cooked in many ways and is also a good source of protein. However, the health benefits of chicken go far beyond just being a protein source. In this article, we will look at 10 health benefits of chicken.
- Protein source Chicken is an excellent source of high-quality protein. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles, bones, and tissues. It is also important for maintaining a healthy immune system. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains about 31 grams of protein, making it a great protein source for people who are looking to build muscle or maintain a healthy body.
- Weight management Chicken is a low-calorie and low-fat food that can help with weight management. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains only 165 calories and 3.6 grams of fat. It is also a good source of dietary protein, which can help reduce appetite and increase satiety, leading to fewer calories consumed overall.
- Heart health Chicken is a good source of niacin, which is a B vitamin that helps to lower cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease, so eating chicken can be beneficial for heart health. Additionally, chicken contains low levels of saturated fat, which can also help to lower the risk of heart disease.
- Brain health Chicken is rich in vitamin B6, which is important for brain function. Vitamin B6 helps to produce neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that transmit signals in the brain. A deficiency in vitamin B6 can lead to depression, confusion, and other neurological disorders.
- Immune system health Chicken is a good source of zinc, which is important for a healthy immune system. Zinc helps to produce white blood cells, which are the cells that fight off infection and disease. Additionally, chicken contains vitamin A, which is important for a healthy immune system and helps to keep the skin and mucous membranes healthy.
- Bone health Chicken is a good source of phosphorus, which is important for bone health. Phosphorus works with calcium to build strong bones and teeth. A 100-gram serving of chicken breast contains about 200 milligrams of phosphorus, which is about 20% of the recommended daily intake.
- Energy production Chicken is a good source of vitamin B12, which is important for energy production. Vitamin B12 helps to convert food into energy that the body can use. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to fatigue and weakness.
- Skin health Chicken is a good source of niacin, which is important for healthy skin. Niacin helps to keep the skin moisturized and prevents dryness and flakiness. Additionally, chicken contains vitamin E, which is important for healthy skin and helps to protect against damage from the sun and other environmental factors.
- Vision health Chicken is a good source of vitamin A, which is important for vision health. Vitamin A helps to maintain healthy eyesight and prevent vision loss. Additionally, chicken contains lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that help to protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals.
- Mood regulation Chicken is a good source of tryptophan, which is an amino acid that helps to regulate mood. Tryptophan is important for the production of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. A deficiency in tryptophan can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.
In conclusion, chicken is a nutritious and versatile food that offers many health benefits. It is a good source of high-quality protein, which is important for building and repairing muscles, bones,