Description
This Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole is the ultimate cozy comfort food — creamy, hearty, and full of flavor. Tender chicken, wild rice, and colorful veggies come together in a rich, cheesy sauce that practically cooks itself. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep!
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs chicken thighs or breasts, trimmed and cut into pieces
1 cup wild rice blend, rinsed
4 cups chicken broth (divided)
2 cups mixed vegetables (such as carrots, celery, onion, or sweet potato)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional for garnish)
¼ cup sliced almonds (optional topping)
Instructions
Prepare Ingredients: Trim the chicken, cut into small pieces, and rinse the wild rice. Dice your veggies. Add chicken, rice, and vegetables to a greased crockpot.
Add Seasonings: Stir in garlic, poultry seasoning, paprika, parsley, salt, pepper, and bay leaves. Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth and mix well.
Cook: Cover and cook on High for 2½ to 4½ hours, or Low for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender, rice is soft, and most liquid is absorbed.
Make the Cream Sauce: Near the end of cooking, melt butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour, then slowly add the remaining 1 cup chicken broth and milk, whisking until thickened.
Combine and Serve: Shred the chicken inside the crockpot. Stir in the cream sauce and cheddar cheese until creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste. Top with almonds and parsley before serving.
Notes
For extra richness, use chicken thighs — they stay juicy and flavorful.
Want to lighten it up? Swap whole milk for 2% or unsweetened almond milk.
Leftovers reheat beautifully; add a splash of broth before warming to keep it creamy.
Freezer-friendly for up to 3 months — perfect for meal prep!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg