Ever wonder why certain combinations just work? Bread and cheese, steak and potatoes, beans and tortillas. The same goes for chicken and rice. Every culture has its own version: think chicken biryani, chicken pilaf, Hainanese chicken rice.

Here are my 16 chicken and rice recipes that I've made time and time again because they just work and get eaten. No complaints, no moaning, every single time. They're not fancy, they're just practical, tested, and taste absolutely delicious. And if you're like me, you'll appreciate that they're super easy to make, because I know how tired we all are.

Casserole Recipe	Best For
1. Classic Southern Chicken and Wild Rice	Taking to new mothers
2. Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Bake	Picky eaters and toddlers
3. Creamy Mushroom Chicken and Rice	Sunday dinner after church
4. Mexican Fiesta Chicken and Rice Bake	Taco Tuesday alternatives
5. Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice Casserole	Spring and summer evenings
6. Slow Cooker Chicken and Brown Rice	Busy tournament weekends
7. French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake	Cozy winter nights
8. Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice	Garlic lovers and quick prep
9. Buffalo Chicken and Rice Casserole	Game day gatherings
10. Chicken Cordon Bleu Rice Casserole	Using up leftover holiday ham
11. Teriyaki Chicken and Rice Bake	Craving takeout at home
12. Green Chile Chicken and Rice	A mild, flavorful kick
13. Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Rice	Potluck showstoppers
14. Cajun Spiced Chicken and Rice	Feeding a hungry crowd
15. Tomato Basil Chicken and Rice	Using fresh garden herbs
16. Buttery Cracker Topped Chicken and Rice	Pure, nostalgic comfort

1. Classic Southern Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

This is a real comfort dish that I make when I'm feeling like something hot and more substantial. I think it's the wild rice that does it here. It's earthy and has a way different texture compared to normal rice, and it just goes so well with this classic chicken.

This is a great one to make for that new mom friend of yours, because it's freezer-friendly and reheats beautifully. Most dishes dry out, but this one stays moist thanks to its cream-and-broth base. This is a recipe I always make for new parents.

2. Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Bake

This is a classic way to hide that broccoli. In this cheesy broccoli chicken and rice bake, my son won't touch broccoli on its own, but he has no idea that it's in the dish, and he gobbles it down like there's no tomorrow.

I like to make this with some mushrooms, and I stir in a handful of spinach at the end. The boys get crispy bacon, which I skip, and then it's delicious with a squeeze of lemon just to brighten the richness. I also like to use reduced-fat cheddar here, use mostly milk instead of cream, and add extra broccoli if I'm trying to be healthy, but those are just those days, not all the time.

A mistake I could have made way too often is cutting those florets too big. They need to be evenly small pieces, because otherwise it just disappears into the rice and sauce.

3. Creamy Mushroom Chicken and Rice

This dish is so rich, creamy, and earthy, with all those mushrooms adding a ton of umami. It's just one of those dinner comfort foods, but it's so simple to make, perfect for a Tuesday night.

I typically add some peas for a little bit of sweetness, and a splash of wine when I cook those mushrooms, just for extra depth. It kind of changes this whole dish for me. I find myself going back for seconds with this one.

4. Mexican Fiesta Chicken and Rice Bake

This bake tastes even better the next day, so it's perfect for leftovers or meal prep. I find you can either make this family-friendly dinner, or you can add extra chili if you want something spicy and it's just you and the hubby, with no kids. This one has tons of flavor.

I like to use pepper jack cheese here for a little bit of extra spice, and if you don't have black beans, you can use kidney beans, no problem. I make this when I'm feeling really lazy because there's absolutely minimal prep with this one, and also minimal cleanup. This is also delicious with some crushed tortilla chips on top for crunch, so top it with tons of spring onion and a splash of Greek yogurt, and it all comes together.

5. Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice Casserole

There's something about the combination of zesty lemon, fragrant herbs, and tender chicken with creamy rice that makes this casserole feel lighter than many baked rice dishes, while still serving plenty of comfort at the same time. I love tossing in some asparagus or broccoli for a spring-inspired version.

And guys, if you don't have mozzarella, that's also cool; you can use gruyere if you want; it gives a richer, nuttier flavor. This is delicious with a green salad. I still feel light and ready to go after eating two plates of this.

6. Slow Cooker Chicken and Brown Rice

This is such an easy, hands-off dinner that I find is perfect for busy weekdays, and of course makes fantastic leftovers. Brown rice and chicken give you plenty of flavor, and brown rice holds up so well in a slow cooker; it just soaks up all that delicious flavor.

I like to fancy this up and stir in some baby spinach, a little bit of cream, and some parmesan in the last 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it if your slow cooker tends to cook really hot and the rice is absorbing liquid too quickly. I like to keep an extra cup of hot chicken stock to add in at the end, since I find it keeps the dish creamy.

It's a perfect meal to make in the morning, go out, and then get home to, with everything done for you without lifting a finger.

7. French Onion Chicken and Rice Bake

There's something about French onion soup, or just French onion in general, that takes me right back to my days at cooking school. I can still remember standing over the stove, patiently stirring onions, while lecturers reminded us not to rush them. We were even marked on the color and shine of our onions. They had to be just beautiful, caramelized, soft and glossy, and full of sweetness. It sounds a bit fussy at the time, but it's one of those lessons that stayed with me.

Getting a French onion soup just perfect is almost like a rite of passage. Plus, there's something so delicious about the combination of onion gravy turned into a bake with chicken and rice. This was some fun with green beans added in, and you basically make yourself a meal you could serve to one of your teachers at cooking school.

8. Garlic Butter Chicken and Rice

There's no better combination than garlic butter chicken and rice. And guys, with this one I always add way more garlic than is actually needed, because oh, I love garlic. My grandma used to say garlic and onion make you live longer when I was a child, and I suppose it's always stuck with me. But it totally depends on whether you like garlic or not as to how much garlic goes in this recipe.

This is such a nice one because it's a one-pot wonder; you just literally throw everything into one pot, and it cooks all together, and the rice soaks everything up. This is delicious with a green salad, or whatever you've got in your fridge or pantry.

9. Buffalo Chicken and Rice Casserole

I made this buffalo chicken and rice casserole once for a whole bunch of mates who were coming over to watch a rugby game, and now every single time there's a big rugby game, everyone expects the same thing. I feel like most people love a buffalo chicken wing, so this one never disappoints.

There's something about buffalo chicken and beer that goes so well together. Leftovers store in the fridge for up to three days, which makes it a lovely leftover snack the next day. Just add a splash of milk or chicken stock to keep this casserole nice and creamy.

10. Chicken Cordon Bleu Rice Casserole

My husband absolutely adores chicken cordon bleu, but sometimes we can't find it at the shops, so I just quickly turn it into a rice casserole situation, which keeps him just as happy. It's also a great way to use up all that leftover ham, say after Easter or over Christmas. You've got to get that combination of chicken, ham, and cheese, and then you've basically winged it from there.

Typically we actually serve leftover ham, and then I'm using the rest to make a ham and pea soup. That is such a nostalgic soup for me; it just takes me back to my childhood, my grandmother making it for us on the farm. But whatever happens, nothing goes to waste. So this is where the chicken cordon bleu casserole comes about; it's kind of like a thrown-together thing that's just worked.

11. Teriyaki Chicken and Rice Bake

This is typically a Sunday situation where we're both craving something we don't have to work hard for, but because teriyaki chicken and rice bake is actually so easy to make, I just quickly throw it together.

My husband loves that General Tso's dish, but it's quite a mission to make, so I sub this in instead, and he's pretty happy about it. It's that sweet and savory combo that just gets us every single time. Then I serve it with tons of spring onion and fresh coriander, and it just hits the spot.

12. Green Chile Chicken and Rice

Even though this one says it contains chile in it, it's not typically that hot, and we actually make this as a family dinner, and everyone eats it. I grate tons of Monterey Jack cheese on top of it, so literally when you break into it with a serving spoon, it cracks, and then when you lift it up, the strings go all the way to the ceiling, if you know what I'm saying.

This is a really nice one to serve with tortillas and fresh guacamole, and then you've turned it into a sort of Mexican meal with some sour cream, too.

13. Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Rice Casserole

We always go to the Christmas in July at a family friend's place, and she spends the whole morning making us amazing meals, and one of them is spinach and artichoke dip. I almost want to fly from Cape Town to Durban just to have that dip because it's quite an expensive thing to make, so when I do happen to have artichokes lying around, or if I'm gifted them,

I'll turn it into something special, like this spinach-and-artichoke chicken rice casserole. It's not everyone's favorite in my family, but that's fine; I'll make this for myself and freeze it.

14. Cajun Spiced Chicken and Rice

We've got this very cool neighbor who makes us this delicious Cajun-spiced chicken and rice dish. This recipe brings a little Southern heat to the table. The addition of smoked sausage makes it incredibly hearty for growing boys.

15. Tomato Basil Chicken and Rice

We always have this problem in summer; we end up with so much basil we don't know what to do with it. I turn it into basil pesto, and then I freeze that. We have basil with everything; I make basil salads, use it everywhere, and then tend to lean into making something like this tomato basil chicken and rice dish. I add in basil, tomato, and lots of fresh mozzarella.

It depends on what you've got, but it almost tastes like a pizza. And everyone eats this; it's got such a lot of summery flavor. I like to add in some baby spinach, and sometimes even olives, which changes the flavor profile a bit. But basically you can use the basil chicken and rice as the base and then just work and add things on top of it, if you'd like it to taste like a pizza.

16. Buttery Cracker Topped Chicken and Rice

My auntie used to make this for us a million years ago, and I have to be honest, it's not really one of my favorites, but it does really bring back a lot of memories. We'd spend the afternoon in the pool, and then my aunt would have this in the oven, and we'd watch TV and eat this buttery cracker-topped chicken and rice. It's very family-friendly, and it's something I actually should make for my son, so I'm going to try it tonight.