There’s nothing quite like a warm, hearty casserole to bring comfort to your dinner table, especially when it’s prepared quickly and effortlessly in your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi. This **Chicken Mushroom Rice Casserole** recipe is the epitome of comfort food, blending tender chicken, earthy mushrooms, and fluffy rice in a rich, creamy sauce, making it an instant family favorite. Forget the elaborate cleanup – this one-pot wonder means more time enjoying your meal and less time scrubbing dishes.
This recipe was born out of necessity and a touch of accidental genius during a recent RV adventure. While renovating our home, our pressure cooker became our best friend, transforming simple ingredients into delicious meals for our family of five. What started as an experimental combination of pantry staples, a package of fresh mushrooms, and vibrant green beans quickly became a staple in our rotation of Instant Pot recipes. Its ease and incredible flavor made it an instant hit, proving that even in a compact space, extraordinary meals are possible. Now, we always keep the ingredients on hand for those unexpectedly busy evenings.
Why This Chicken and Rice Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup Is a Must-Try
This versatile casserole can be made in any brand of electric pressure cooker, including your Crockpot Express, Mealthy, or as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe. The cooking times are consistent across all models, ensuring a fabulous outcome every time. What makes this dish truly special is its ability to deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort. It’s a hearty, satisfying meal that brings back nostalgic memories of classic casseroles, but updated for the modern kitchen with the speed and convenience of a pressure cooker.
Living in our travel trailer taught us the value of efficiency in the kitchen. When space is limited and time is precious, easy RV meals become essential. This casserole perfectly fits the bill. It’s not just a recipe; it’s a testament to creating delicious, wholesome food no matter your circumstances. With a few dry ingredients, some canned chicken (or fresh if you have it), and a handful of fresh vegetables, you can create a culinary masterpiece. We fondly call it **Instant Pot chicken mushroom rice**, but you can simply call it dinner.
As a child of the 70s, the concept of using up leftovers and creating comforting, budget-friendly meals is deeply ingrained. This is why I am a huge fan of Instant Pot casseroles. They offer a fantastic way to transform ingredients into something new and exciting. While I typically prefer fresh ingredients, the beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. When you’re traveling or in a pinch, precooked or canned ingredients work perfectly without compromising on flavor.
Mastering Your Pressure Cooker: Tips for Perfect Rice
One crucial tip for success when cooking with rice in your pressure cooker, especially in a mixed dish like this casserole, is to **avoid stirring the rice in with the other ingredients**. If you’re cooking rice on its own, stirring is fine, but when combined with other components and liquid, it’s different. Instead, add the rice last, sprinkling it evenly over the top, and then gently submerge it into the liquid without fully stirring. This technique is vital.
Why is this so important? It prevents the rice from settling at the bottom, which can lead to it burning and sticking to the pot. Nobody wants to see the dreaded “burn notice” flash on their pressure cooker! By layering the rice on top and gently ensuring it’s covered by liquid, you allow it to cook perfectly, absorbing the flavors of the dish without sticking. This simple step ensures your casserole is creamy, delicious, and cooked to perfection every single time.
Key Ingredients for a Delicious Casserole
This recipe calls for simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to create a truly magical meal. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken: You can use up to 1 lb. of fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, diced into bite-sized pieces. For ultimate convenience, canned chicken (drained) or leftover chicken breasts work wonderfully.
- Chicken Broth: This is our preferred liquid for cooking, as it infuses the dish with more flavor than water. Vegetable broth is also a great alternative.
- Long Grain White Rice: Crucially, use *long grain white rice* and *not instant rice*. The cooking times and liquid absorption are different, and long grain will give you the best texture.
- Cream of Mushroom or Chicken Soup: The heart of our creamy sauce. You can use a can of either, or for an even fresher taste, consider making your own homemade cream of mushroom soup.
- Onions: Diced onions add a layer of savory depth to the casserole. This ingredient is optional but highly recommended for enhanced flavor.
- Garlic Salt: A simple way to add both garlic flavor and seasoning.
- Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to taste, always adjust to your preference.
- Cheese: Optional, but a fantastic addition for a gooey, cheesy finish. Shredded cheddar or a cheddar-jack blend works best.
- Mushrooms: Baby bella mushrooms, quartered, add an earthy richness.
- Green Beans: Fresh green beans, trimmed and halved, provide a lovely pop of color and tender-crisp texture.
Smart Substitutions and Variations
One of the best aspects of this casserole is its incredible flexibility. It’s designed to be adaptable to what you have on hand or what your family prefers. This flexibility is what made it one of our favorite quick meals, disappearing entirely the first night and prompting a repeat performance twice that week!
When it comes to vegetables, you do need to be mindful of cooking times. Choose vegetables that will cook at a similar rate to the rice and green beans. For instance, broccoli isn’t ideal unless you don’t mind it becoming quite mushy. Green beans and small baby bella mushrooms are on the firmer side and hold up beautifully under pressure, coming out tender alongside the rice. Small diced carrots would likely also work well. Consider other firm vegetables like diced bell peppers or asparagus tips, added at a similar stage.
For a vegetarian version, simply omit the chicken and use cream of mushroom soup and vegetable broth. For added flavor, a sprinkle of onion and garlic powder can further enhance the richness. If you have some family members who prefer meat and others who don’t, you can even cook the vegetarian base and then stir in precooked diced chicken for the meat-eaters at the end. This versatility truly makes it a meal for everyone.
How to Make Chicken Mushroom Rice Casserole in Your Pressure Cooker
Time needed: 8 minutes (plus prep)
A quick and creamy Chicken and Rice with Cream of Mushroom
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Prepare and Sauté (if using fresh chicken)
If using 1 lb. of fresh, diced chicken: Set your pressure cooker to sauté mode with a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook the chicken until the outsides are no longer pink. Turn off the sauté function and deglaze the pot with a splash of broth to scrape up any browned bits. Skip this step if you are using precooked or canned chicken.
Add the prepared mushrooms, green beans, diced onion, seasonings (garlic salt, salt, pepper), and precooked chicken (if using canned or leftover) to your pot. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup and chicken broth until smooth. Pour this mixture into the pot.
Finally, sprinkle the uncooked long grain white rice evenly over the top of the liquid. **Do NOT stir!** Gently push the rice down into the liquid just enough to submerge it.
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Pressure Cook and Serve
Secure the lid on your pressure cooker and set the steam release valve to the sealing position. Cook on High Pressure for 9 minutes. Once cooking is complete, allow a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 2 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure. Carefully open the lid.
Fluff the rice with a fork. If desired, stir in shredded cheese now and allow it to melt into the hot casserole. Serve immediately and enjoy your comforting one-pot meal!
The total active cook time for this dish is remarkably quick, around 15 minutes including sautéing and pressure build-up, making it ideal for those nights when you need a delicious meal in a jiffy. And as mentioned, its simplicity and one-pot nature make it an outstanding option for travel or camping in an RV.
Chicken Mushroom Rice Casserole
Justine
10 minutes
9 minutes
6
Comment
Print Recipe
Equipment
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1 pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast, fresh diced into small pieces, precooked, or 10 -12 oz. canned chicken
- 1 container mushrooms, baby bellas are best, 8 oz. total, cut into fourths
- .5 lb green beans, fresh, ends removed, cut in half
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1.5 tsp garlic salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 2.5 c broth, chicken or beef
- 1 c rice, NOT instant, white long grain, uncooked
- 3/4 c cheese, shredded, optional
Instructions
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If using fresh diced chicken, add it to your pot with a bit of olive oil on sauté mode and cook until the outsides are no longer pink. Then, turn off the pot. Now, add your prepared mushrooms, green beans, onions, precooked chicken (if using canned instead of fresh), and seasonings into your pot.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together your broth and cream of mushroom soup until smooth, then add this mixture into your pot.
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Sprinkle your uncooked white rice evenly on top and **do NOT stir**. Just gently press it down into the liquid to submerge. Close the lid and steam valve, then set to high pressure for 9 minutes.
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Allow a natural pressure release for 2 minutes before carefully letting out any remaining steam.
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Fluff the rice with a fork. Add shredded cheese into your pot and stir until the cheese melts. Serve immediately!
Nutrition
Calories: 265kcal,
Carbohydrates: 33g,
Protein: 17g,
Fat: 7g,
Saturated Fat: 4g,
Cholesterol: 41mg,
Sodium: 1577mg,
Potassium: 346mg,
Fiber: 2g,
Sugar: 3g,
Vitamin A: 680IU,
Vitamin C: 6mg,
Calcium: 130mg,
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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More Pressure Cooker Chicken Favorites
If you’re loving the ease and deliciousness of Instant Pot chicken dishes, here are a few more recipes you might enjoy:
- Our easy Instant Pot butter chicken is incredibly flavorful and always a crowd-pleaser.
- For a different creamy option, try our Instant Pot bone-in chicken thighs, featuring a rich and savory sauce. You can find more Ninja Foodi chicken recipes here.
- If you’re a mushroom enthusiast, you might also like to make just Instant Pot mushrooms as a side dish.
- For a healthier yet equally satisfying meal, our pressure cooker beer can chicken has been a popular choice.
And for those who prefer frozen vegetables and pasta, our pressure cooker chicken noodle casserole is always a hit with kids and adults alike.
How Long Can You Safely Keep Leftovers?
Proper storage is key to enjoying your delicious casserole for days to come. This chicken mushroom rice casserole can be safely stored in the refrigerator for three to four days. To ensure freshness and safety, always transfer leftovers to an airtight container promptly after cooling to room temperature. If you don’t anticipate finishing the leftovers within this timeframe, it’s best to freeze them immediately.
Can You Freeze Cooked Casseroles?
Yes, absolutely! Freezing cooked casseroles is a fantastic way to prepare meals ahead of time or to preserve larger batches. However, avoid freezing it in the cooking pot itself. Instead, transfer the cooled leftovers into freezer-safe plastic containers or sturdy freezer bags. When using bags, press out as much air as possible before sealing to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date and contents, then place it in your freezer.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, remove the casserole from its freezer container and place it into a microwave-safe dish. Reheat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s thoroughly heated through. If the casserole appears too thick after reheating, you can thin it out with a splash of chicken broth or water to restore its creamy consistency. This makes for a convenient and delicious meal any day of the week!
This Instant Pot Chicken Mushroom Rice Casserole is more than just a recipe; it’s a solution for busy weeknights, a comforting embrace after a long day, and a versatile dish that adapts to your pantry and preferences. Enjoy the simplicity and savor every delicious bite!