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An easy and wholesome comfort food casserole made with wild rice, chicken, butternut squash, a little parmesan, and cozy spices like thyme and sage. Healthy food meets comfort food in the most delicious way!
This is cold-weather comfort food at it’s finest. This is your winter dinner go-to. This is a wholesome comfort food casserole. This is Healthy Chicken Wild Rice Casserole.
So – what have we got going on here, exactly? A bunch of real, wholesome, good-for-you ingredients like butternut squash, wild rice, chicken, onion, a lil parmesan cheese and a handful of spices. Yummo.
But the real superstars are the wild rice + the butternut squash.
Look at those gorgeous super star foods. Easy on the eyes and the tummy!
There are so many things I love about this casserole but if I absolutely had to pick one? It would be the fact that everything about this tastes like comfort food while actually being super healthy.
I mean, you can argue me on the cheese, but c’mon. It gives a beautifully crunchy texture to the top of the casserole when popped in the oven for a few minutes. How can you say no to that?
I think we need to go back and talk about that squash a little bit more. Look at that golden-orangey goodness!
When you sauté the squash, it takes on an almost caramelized flavor that is just The. Best.
I discovered this by a happy little accident when I started to almost burn the squash while cooking it ? So obviously, this recipe is super user-friendly. I almost burnt part of it and it still turned out amazing. Total pro over here, people. Healthy chicken wild rice casserole is the perfect way to kick off this winter/holiday season on a nutritious note.
With that said, I’m off to work on a gingerbread cookie recipe – because balance ❤
Happy eating, friends!
If you love cozy, comforting casseroles that also pack a little bit of nutritional punch, make this Cheesy Pasta Bake with Sausage and Peppers next!
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Healthy Chicken Wild Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- About 2 cups of butternut squash, cubed
- 1 cup wild rice, measured when uncooked
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cook rice according to package directions and set aside.
- While the rice is cooking, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Toss with the thyme, sage, salt and pepper. Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until done (about 5-7 minutes). Remove from pan and set aside on a paper-towel lined plate.
- Add the diced onion and butternut squash to the pan with another tablespoon of olive oil. Add a pinch of salt + pepper. Cook about 6-8 minutes, until squash is a little tender - but not fully cooked.
- Add the chicken, wild rice, and 1/2 cup of parmesan to the squash/onion mixture and stir to combine. Add the entire mixture to prepared dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Add the remaining parmesan cheese to the top of casserole and bake about 5 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Note: You can easily double this recipe! I made a smaller batch because I'm only feeding Grant + myself, but it doubles well. You can also adjust the cheese amount up or down depending on how much you like cheese!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I never made anything with wild rice, so now may be it’s the right time, especially in this cold weather.
Absolutely! Wild rice is quite delicious 🙂
I eat rice everyday, but never got a chance to try wild rice, Your casserole rice with squash looks really yum. I need to give it a try.
Thanks so much!
Mmm this sounds like a great way to use up those leftovers! I reckon it would work with turkey too?
Absolutely! 🙂
This is going to be great for the family, my kids will love it and nice and healthy for them!!
Hooray! 🙂
Exactly the kind of recipe I love making for a family dinner. It sounds and looks lovely!
Thank you!
This does look divine and comforting. I happen to have some wild rice on hand…I’ll be making this one! Yum!
Glad to hear it! 🙂
Such a delicious meal recipe, love it! Casseroles are so delicious!
Yes they are! 🙂
Love easy and delicious casseroles and this recipe ticks all the boxes! Love that it uses wild rice instead of plain rice.
Casseroles are the best! This one looks both easy and delicious!
Yup…we are squash lovers here. Use it all the time in soups, stews…and delicious casseroles like this. What a great weeknight dinner…and would easily feed a hungry crowd at a potluck too.
Could you use a rotisserie chicken cut up for this recipe?
You sure can! 🙂