This chicken and rice casserole is an easy dinner for a busy night. And we have been trying to eat a little healthier. This doesn’t have any creamed soups or loads of butter added. A no-guilt dinner.
This Low Fat Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Casserole is one of those great recipes that you could eat every week. Super easy to make and bursting with Tex Mex flavors. Topped with a layer of cheese. YUM.
We were so surprised when our kids devoured this chicken and rice casserole. I think we might make a double batch next time. It has just the right amount of kick. The kids still like it.
can you use other flavors of rice in this recipe?
We love the chicken and rice vermicelli mix with this recipe. But you could easily swap for other flavors of rice.
If you are looking for an even healthier option, you could add in cooked brown rice. You may want to add in some extra seasonings of your choice if it tastes a little bland.
Some other boxed rice flavors that might be delicious are a cheddar cheese flavor of any kind, chicken and garlic, or a long grain and wild rice. The options are endless.
chicken breast or precooked chicken?
We like to buy frozen chicken breasts in the 4 pound bag and use them in a lot of recipes. It’s a better price when buying it in larger amounts. Then we thaw and cook the chicken breasts as needed in so many recipes.
If you are short on time, a rotisserie chicken is great in this recipe. Just pull the chicken off the bones and dice into bite sized pieces.
You can also use frozen chicken already cooked and seasoned. That would also be tasty in this Low fat Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Casserole.
Looking for more Tex Mex recipes? Try our Tex Mex Cheesy Chicken Soup!
how to make Low Fat tex-mex chicken and rice casserole
- This recipe is so easy and we love that it is made up of ingredients that we usually have on hand in our pantry. No running to the store for ingredients you may never need again.
- In a sauce pan cook onion in oil over medium heat until tender.
- Stir in rice package with seasoning packet. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Add in chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat.
- Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. (liquid will not be fully absorbed)
5. Transfer the rice mixture into a mixing bowl. Stir in chicken, tomato, chiles, chili powder, basil, cumin, and pepper.
6. After it is all mixed together, transfer the mixture into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish that has been lightly sprayed with non stick cooking spray.
7. Baked covered at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and cover with shredded cheese. Let stand for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts. Then serve.
- Enjoy every delicious bite.
helpful items for this recipe:
- 8 x 8 inch baking dish – a favorite dish that comes with a nice lid for transporting or storing leftovers.
- Knives – these are a nice set of knives for chopping. They come in fun colors. Great for gift giving too.
- Skillet – a great non stick skillet that cleans up so easily.
Have you heard about our newest cookbook, Copycat Cooking? We took over 100 of our favorite restaurant recipes and simplified them so that you can make them right at home!
Every recipe has a beautiful mouth-watering photo and has been picky-eater approved. The directions are simple, easy to follow, and do not require any strange ingredients.
This cookbook includes copycat recipes from Wingers, Texas Roadhouse, Starbucks, Panera, Cheesecake Factory, Kneaders, and so much more. We have you covered from drinks, to dessert and everything in-between.
We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!
SIX SISTERS’ STUFF COPYCAT COOKING <—– CLICK HERE TO ORDER!
here are more healthy chicken recipes:
You will love these chicken recipes to prepare for your family.
- Healthy Chicken Fajita Soup
- Healthy Buffalo Chicken Tostadas
- Healthy Honey Baked Chicken
- Chicken Lime Lettuce Wraps
- Skinny Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Low Fat Tex-Mex Chicken and Rice Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 6.9 ounces chicken flavored rice and vermicelli mix, 1 package
- 14 ounces chicken broth, 1 can
- 2 cups water
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped and seeded
- 4 ounces mild diced green chilis, 1 can, drained
- 1½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a saucepan cook onion in hot oil over medium heat until tender.
- Stir in rice and vermicelli mix (including seasoning package); cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Stir in broth and water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat.
- Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes (liquid will not be fully absorbed).
- Transfer the rice mixture to a large bowl. Stir in chicken, tomato, chiles, chili powder, basil, cumin and pepper.
- Transfer to a 8 x 8 inch casserole dish.
- Bake, covered, at 425 degree oven for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and sprinkle with cheese.
- Let stand about 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.Be sure to not miss another recipe!
Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram |Facebook |Pinterest | YouTube
Have you seen our YouTube channel?
Looks wonderful. To really make this healthy, though, I’m going to try to use brown rice and no packaged / flavored rice to reduce sodium and preservatives. By adding additional broth instead of water, I’ll bet it will still be flavorful!
Well, yum!
I made my usual chicken and rice dish into a texmex tonight, patterned after your recipe. It was fabulous. Just wanted to say thanks.
How many servings does this recipe make?
Hi Hillary!
There are 8 servings. You could serve more or less depending on your serving size portion.
We’ve been counting calories at our house lately, but I was getting tired of the “chicken & vegetables” that we were having for almost every meal. I miss casseroles! This hit the spot, and I am going to use this idea and make a chicken & broccoli casserole next week using a different rice mix, etc. We’ll see how it turns out!
I made this last night for dinner and it was DELICIOUS!! My husband even went back for seconds! Thanks for recipe!
I actually made this last night, but doubled the spices and added black olives and 1/2 c light sour cream (I can’t resist sour cream). It was delish
I made this with a few modifications and it was so delicious!
I used low sodium rice & vermicelli mix as well as low sodium chicken broth. I also used a single can of diced tomatoes with diced green chiles already added in (probably adding some of that sodium back in too, ha!)
I will be making this again in the future!
Anyone know the calories on this dish?
Making this right now, and it looks like I made the same modifications as Georgia! Looking forward to having this tonight!
How much water is suppose to be left in the pan before you put it in the casserole dish? It seems like alot. I hope it turns out 🙁
I made this a few nights ago and it was really good!! I did add some sliced black olives to it but that’s the only change I made. It was super easy to make and my entire family loved it. I will make this again. Thanks for sharing!
I made this casserole today!! It’s very delicious!! I will definitely make this again!
Made this tonight! Super easy and just the right amount of spicy!
How calories?
Do you think this could be made as a freezer meal?
The rice might get a little mushy as a freezer meal. You could try a small amount before freezing the whole recipe.
I love this recipe. I have actually in a pinch used Tyson’s pulled chicken to save time, and I always use Rotel tomatoes in place of tomatoes and green chilis. It adds the perfect spicy taste.