Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole
Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole layers herbed rice and vermicelli with tender pesto-coated chicken, all finished under a creamy Alfredo drizzle and a salty Parmesan sprinkle. It’s rich, aromatic, and comforting, perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a casual weekend meal when you want big flavor with minimal fuss.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 46 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 50 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Food
- 3 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 17
- Heart Health
- 25
- Metabolic
- 22
- Digestive
- 18
- Inflammatory
- 32
- Performance
- 29
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Coat an 8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- 2
Stir together 1 1/2 cups water, rice, seasoning packets, and 2 tablespoons pesto. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- 3
Toss the chicken tenders with the remaining 2 tablespoons pesto in a shallow dish. Arrange the chicken on top of the rice.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should register at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- 5
Stir the remaining 1/4 cup water into the Alfredo sauce. Remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the Alfredo sauce over the chicken, stirring to combine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake until the cheese melts, about 15 more minutes. Serve immediately.
- Calories 755.65 kcal High 38%
- Protein 29.52 g Good Source 59%
- Carbohydrate 53.34 g 19%
- Total Fat 46.15 g High 59%
- Saturated Fat 5.48 g High 27%
- Trans Fat 0.04 g High --
- Cholesterol 60.28 mg High 20%
- Sodium 628.89 mg High 27%
- Dietary Fiber 2.35 g Low Source 8%
- Total Sugars 5.02 g --
- Added Sugars 4.34 g Moderate 9%
- Calcium 107.82 mg Low Source 8%
- Iron 0.68 mg Low Source 4%
- Potassium 47.61 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 11.43 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 0.04 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
About This Recipe
Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole is made with 7 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 55 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Alfredo Sauce, Basil Pesto, Chicken Tenderloin, and Cooking Spray. Each serving provides about 755.65 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are Alfredo Sauce, Basil Pesto, Chicken Tenderloin, Cooking Spray, Grated Parmesan Cheese. The full list of 7 is above.
- How long does it take to make Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole?
- About 55 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 755.65 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 7 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole healthy?
- Baked Chicken and Pesto Rice Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 35/100. Per serving, it provides 755.65 calories and 29.52 g of protein, or 59% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 628.89 mg (27% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 5.48 g (27% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 4.34 g (9% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat and Gluten, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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