1Preheat Oven
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole (Creamy Garlic Herb Sauce, No Cheese or Milk)
Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and sweet green peas baked in a velvety garlic herb broth veloute without a single ounce of cheese, butter, or milk.
Quick Answer • Test Kitchen Standard
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Saute Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Make Dairy Free Veloute: Sprinkle flour over the onions, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken bone broth while whisking continuously. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and thick. Season with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
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| Recipe | Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole (Creamy Garlic Herb Sauce, No Cheese or Milk) |
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Got chicken? Never wonder what’s for dinner again.
Wondering how to make a cozy chicken and rice casserole that is completely dairy free without tasting like compromise? You have come to the right place. This wholesome bake uses a rich garlic herb veloute to deliver classic comfort food satisfaction.
Chickeeen At A Glance: Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins
- Ideal Pull Temp: 165°F (74°C) bubbling throughout the center
- Elena’s Golden Rule: Whisk flour into warm olive oil before adding broth to create a silky, dairy free veloute sauce that binds the casserole.
- Master Chart: Compare cooking times and pull temperatures on our Master Chicken Cooking Times Chart
Creating Rich Velvety Texture Without Cream or Cheese
Traditional casseroles rely on dairy fats to coat starches and proteins. By cooking all purpose flour in extra virgin olive oil, flour starches form a smooth roux. Pouring in hot collagen rich chicken bone broth causes the starch granules to burst and gelatinize into a rich veloute sauce. The resulting sauce coats every grain of rice and chicken cube with luxurious mouthfeel while remaining 100 percent dairy free.
Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole Ingredients Spotlight
Here is what you need to make this recipe for dairy free chicken and rice casserole:
Cooked Chicken: Juicy white or dark meat shreds easily into the herb sauce.
Cooked Long Grain Rice: Fluffy grains that absorb the savory broth without turning mushy.
Chicken Bone Broth: Provides rich savory flavor and natural collagen body to the dairy free sauce.
Fresh Thyme and Rosemary: Herbal aromatics that infuse traditional comforting flavor into every bite.
What to Serve With Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole
Serve alongside roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy edges or a fresh spinach salad with lemon poppyseed dressing.
How to Store and Reheat Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole
Store leftovers in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Warm individual portions in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes with a splash of broth, or microwave for 2 minutes.
The Technique
Mastering Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole comes down to precise temperature control and key technique cues.
2Saute Aromatics
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until soft and translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3Make Dairy Free Veloute
Sprinkle flour over the onions, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken bone broth while whisking continuously. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until smooth and thick. Season with thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
4Fold in Ingredients
Remove skillet from heat. Stir in cooked chicken, cooked rice, and frozen peas and carrots until evenly coated in savory gravy.
5Bake to Golden
Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbling throughout and lightly golden on top. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
Test Kitchen Standards
Essential Benchmarks for Perfect Poultry
Every recipe on Chickeeen relies on these four core culinary physics principles. Use our tested reference cards before you start cooking.
🌡️
Safety & Juiciness
Safe Pull Temp
165°F White / 175°F Dark
Exact target internal pull temperatures by cut to lock in maximum moisture.
Read Full Guide
→
⏱️
Moisture Lock
Resting Time Formula
5 to 15 Minutes
Retain up to 40% more natural juices with proper carryover heat resting.
Read Full Guide
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🧂
Deep Flavor
Salt Ratio & Timing
1% by Total Weight
Dry brining science and salt penetration window for deeply seasoned poultry.
Read Full Guide
→
🍗
Maximum Crunch
Crispy Skin Science
Surface Dehydration
The baking powder secret, high heat Maillard reaction, and fat rendering rules.
Read Full Guide
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📋
Get Printable Chart
→
Master Chicken Cooking Times and Temperature Chart
Every cut, cooking method, and safe pull temperature on one printable page.
Practical notes
Substitutions
Brown rice or quinoa can replace white rice. Carrots, green beans, or sliced mushrooms can be added.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating
Warm individual portions in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes with a splash of broth, or microwave for 2 minutes.
Nutrition per serving
Calories
380
Protein
32g
Fat
26g
Carbs
1g
Sodium
620mg
Sugar
0g
Calculated by Nutrifox · estimates only · varies by brand
Frequently asked
Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole, your questions.
What makes Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole worth making?
Tender chicken, fluffy rice, and sweet green peas baked in a velvety garlic herb broth veloute without a single ounce of cheese, butter, or milk.
How long does Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole take to make?
Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole takes 55 minutes total: 15 min prep and 40 min cook time.
What equipment do you need for Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole?
A heavy-bottomed pan, tongs, and an instant-read thermometer are a solid baseline for most chicken recipes.
What is the key technique for Dairy Free Chicken and Rice Casserole?
**Bake to Golden**: Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbling throughout and lightly golden on top. Rest 5 minutes before serving.
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Technique Guides
Related Techniques
- Chicken Internal Temperature Pull temps by cut
- How to Brine Chicken Wet & dry brine times
- Crispy Chicken Skin Maillard at 280°F+
- How Long to Rest Chicken Up to 40% more juice
- How to Season Chicken 45 min before cooking
- Chicken Cuts Guide Breast vs thigh vs drum
- How to Spatchcock a Chicken 30% faster, 100% crispy skin