Easy Gluten Free Chicken Casserole with rice (dairy free)

This easy dinner is easy, using simple and quick ingredients. This recipe is gluten free, nut free and dairy free. This easy casserole is perfect for those with celiac disease. When I first found out about my tree nut allegies and that I was celiac and lactose intolerant, I found it hard to find recipes that cater to more than one food allergy or restriction. Since then, it is so important that all my recipes cater to people with multiple dietary restrictions and/or food allergies!

This gluten-free Chicken Casserole with rice is perfect for a cozy fall night when all you want to do is lounge around! Plus the best part… you can make this casserole without any soup, just like my gluten free dairy free taco casserole and my gluten free onion and potato casserole.

This gluten-free Chicken Casserole bakes for an hour and will have your home smelling like delicious warm garlic and parmesan and the entire family drooling. It take 5 minutes to prep and an hour to bake. Its also easy to prep ahead of time for those busy nights. This is an easy recipe the whole family will enjoy.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Simple Prep: This classic comfort food recipe is a breeze to put together, requiring only a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, minimal chopping is involved, saving you precious time in the kitchen.
• Speedy Cooking: Forget spending hours over a hot stove! This casserole relies on pre-cooked rice, eliminating a whole cooking step. The dish itself bakes in just 20-25 minutes, fitting perfectly into your busy schedule.
• Few Pans, Less Mess: This recipe is a great way to avoid doing a lot of dishes! This gluten-free Chicken Casserole with rice recipe uses only a skillet and a baking dish, minimizing the post-dinner cleanup. Less washing means more time for relaxing and enjoying your meal.
• Quick Weeknight Meal: This casserole is your savior on busy weeknights. It comes together in under an hour, providing a flavorful and satisfying meal even when you’re short on time. Plus, it’s sure to please even picky eaters.
• Meal Prep Friendly: This recipe is a meal-prepper’s dream! Simply portion the casserole mix before baking and freeze individual servings. These grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners will be lifesavers throughout the week.
• Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: No need to worry about dietary restrictions! This casserole naturally avoids gluten by using ingredients like chicken sausage and cauliflower rice. Additionally, you can easily substitute dairy-free cheese or simply omit it entirely, making it perfect for everyone to enjoy.
• Family Favorite: This gluten free chicken casserole is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! The savory flavors appeal to a variety of palates, offering comfort and satisfaction for everyone at the table.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Sweet Italian chicken sausage: Savory flavor. Swap with ground chicken or turkey for a lighter option. You can use leftover chicken, pre-cooked chicken, shredded chicken or rotisserie chicken to make this recipe easier. 

Cauliflower rice: low carb rice. Swap with more brown rice, chopped broccoli, or zucchini.

Bell peppers: Sweetness & crunch. Swap with other peppers or chopped onions.

Diced tomatoes: Fresh or canned. Swap with tomato sauce/paste diluted with water.

Red onion: Sharpness. Swap with white onion, yellow onions, or omit for milder taste.

Brown rice: Base of the rice casserole. Swap with white rice, long grain rice, quinoa, or another cooked grain. Cook in chicken broth for more flavor. Use wild rice for a wild rice chicken casserole. If you don’t have ant rice you can also sub gluten-free pasta.

Vegan parmesan cheese: Cheesy flavor. Swap with nutritional yeast, or omit for dairy-free/nut-free.

Salt, pepper, garlic powder: Basic seasonings. Adjust to your preference.

TASTE & TEXTURE

This gluten-free Chicken Casserole delivers comfort in each bite. Savory Italian sausage pairs with the sweetness of tomatoes and peppers. Fluffy brown rice adds heartiness, while cauliflower rice lightens things up. Creamy parmesan cheese brings richness, balanced by the light crunch of diced onion. Textures vary from soft rice to crisp peppers, creating a satisfying contrast. It’s a simple, flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

HOW TO MAKE

STEP 1

Heat olive oil or coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat or medium-high heat. Add the chicken sausage (or ground chicken) and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Stir in the diced tomatoes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 minute more.

STEP 2

In a large casserole dish, combine the cooked brown rice, cauliflower rice, cooked chicken sausage mixture, and vegan parmesan cheese. Stir in salt, black pepper, and garlic powder into the unbaked casserole.

STEP 3

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through and edges are golden brown and crispy. Serve the gluten-free Chicken Casserole hot and enjoy!

EXPERT TIPS & TRICKS

• For a richer flavor, use cooked chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
• Add other vegetables to the casserole, such as broccoli florets, chopped carrots, or zucchini.
• You can use your favorite dairy-free cheese substitute instead of vegan parmesan cheese.
• Make sure your cooked brown rice is completely cooled before adding it to the casserole to prevent the dish from becoming soggy.
• You can also cook the rice and cauliflower rice together in a rice cooker for convenience.
• If you don’t have a baking dish, you can use an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven.
• Feel free to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your casserole.
• Feel free to add some of your favorite toppings or mix ins such as mozzarella cheese or melted cheese on top, green onions, bread crumbs for a crunchy topping, italian seasoning or frozen vegetables.
• Add cheddar cheese, cream cheese or cream, almond milk, sour cream, greek yogurt, coconut milk, cream of chicken soup or any other creamy sauce to make this creamier.

HOW TO SERVE & STORE

Serving: Plate up your casserole hot alongside a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Storing: Leftovers of the gluten-free Chicken Casserole can be stored with plastic wrap over the casserole dish or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the casserole in individual portions or the entire dish in a freezer-safe container.

Reheating: Individual portions of the gluten-free Chicken Casserole can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through. Reheat the entire dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Meal prep: Before baking, portion the gluten-free Chicken Casserole mix into individual freezer-safe containers. Freeze them, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as usual. This makes for convenient, grab-and-go chicken rice bake lunches or quick dinners throughout the week. It is the perfect freezer meal!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Simple Prep: This recipe is a breeze to put together, requiring only a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Plus, minimal chopping is involved, saving you precious time in the kitchen.
• Speedy Cooking: Forget spending hours over a hot stove! This casserole relies on pre-cooked rice, eliminating a whole cooking step. The dish itself bakes in just 20-25 minutes, fitting perfectly into your busy schedule.
• Few Pans, Less Mess: Say goodbye to mountains of dirty dishes! This gluten-free Chicken Casserole recipe uses only a skillet and a baking dish, minimizing the post-dinner cleanup. Less washing means more time for relaxing and enjoying your meal.
• Quick Weeknight Meal: This casserole is your savior on busy weeknights. It comes together in under an hour, providing a flavorful and satisfying meal even when you’re short on time. Plus, it’s sure to please even picky eaters.
• Meal Prep Friendly: This recipe is a meal-prepper’s dream! Simply portion the casserole mix before baking and freeze individual servings. These grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners will be lifesavers throughout the week.
• Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free: No need to worry about dietary restrictions! This casserole naturally avoids gluten by using ingredients like chicken sausage and cauliflower rice. Additionally, you can easily substitute dairy-free cheese or simply omit it entirely, making it perfect for everyone to enjoy.
• Family Favorite: This casserole is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! The savory flavors appeal to a variety of palates, offering comfort and satisfaction for everyone at the table.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS

Sweet Italian chicken sausage: Savory flavor. Swap with ground chicken or turkey for a lighter option.

Cauliflower rice: Low-carb rice. Swap with more brown rice, chopped broccoli, or zucchini.

Bell peppers: Sweetness & crunch. Swap with other peppers or chopped onions.

Diced tomatoes: Fresh or canned. Swap with tomato sauce/paste diluted with water.

Red onion: Sharpness. Swap with white/yellow onion, or omit for milder taste.

Brown rice: Base of the dish. Swap with white rice, quinoa, or another cooked grain.

Vegan parmesan cheese: Cheesy flavor. Swap with nutritional yeast, or omit for dairy-free/nut-free.

Salt, pepper, garlic powder: Basic seasonings. Adjust to your preference.

TASTE & TEXTURE

This gluten-free Chicken Casserole delivers comfort in each bite. Savory Italian sausage pairs with the sweetness of tomatoes and peppers. Fluffy brown rice adds heartiness, while cauliflower rice lightens things up. Creamy parmesan cheese brings richness, balanced by the light crunch of diced onion. Textures vary from soft rice to crisp peppers, creating a satisfying contrast. It’s a simple, flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

HOW TO MAKE

STEP 1

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken sausage (or ground chicken) and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes, until softened. Stir in the diced tomatoes, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for 1 minute more.

STEP 2

In a large baking dish, combine the cooked brown rice, cauliflower rice, cooked chicken sausage mixture, and vegan parmesan cheese. Stir in salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

STEP 3

Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until heated through and edges are golden brown and crispy. Serve the gluten-free Chicken Casserole hot and enjoy!

EXPERT TIPS & TRICKS

• For a richer flavor, use cooked chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
• Add other vegetables to the casserole, such as broccoli florets, chopped carrots, or zucchini.
• You can use your favorite dairy-free cheese substitute instead of vegan parmesan cheese.
• Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Make sure your cooked brown rice is completely cooled before adding it to the casserole to prevent the dish from becoming soggy.
• You can also cook the rice and cauliflower rice together in a rice cooker for convenience.
• If you don’t have a baking dish, you can use an oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven.
• Feel free to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your casserole.

HOW TO SERVE & STORE

Serving: Plate up your casserole hot alongside a fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Storing: Leftovers of the gluten-free Chicken Casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the casserole in individual portions or the entire dish in a freezer-safe container.

Reheating: Individual portions of the gluten-free Chicken Casserole can be reheated in the microwave until warmed through. Reheat the entire dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

Meal prep: Before baking, portion the gluten-free Chicken Casserole mix into individual freezer-safe containers. Freeze them, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as usual. This makes for convenient, grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners throughout the week.

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