Go Back
easy-one-pan-ground-chicken-casserole_feature

Easy One-Pan Ground Chicken Casserole

This one-pan ground chicken casserole is the ultimate weeknight hero that cooks everything in a single dish, minimizes cleanup, and delivers maximum flavor. Perfect for families seeking nutritious meals that don't compromise on taste, it's easily adaptable to use ground turkey or a turkey-chicken blend.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 425
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground chicken (or ground turkey)
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced (any color)
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Prepare your ingredients: Dice onion, bell pepper, and mince garlic. Measure out spices and have rice ready.
  2. Brown the ground chicken: Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add ground chicken and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  3. Sauté vegetables: Add diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to skillet with cooked chicken. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften.
  4. Add rice and seasonings: Stir in uncooked rice, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast rice and spices.
  5. Combine liquids and simmer: Pour in diced tomatoes (with juices) and chicken broth. Bring to simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender.
  6. Add toppings and bake: Sprinkle shredded cheese over top and transfer skillet to preheated 375°F oven. Bake for 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, let rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

For ground turkey recipes, add extra olive oil since turkey is leaner. Use brown rice for extra fiber (increase liquid by 1/2 cup and cooking time by 10-15 minutes). Can be adapted for slow cooker by browning meat first, then cooking all ingredients except cheese on low for 4-5 hours.