Easy BBQ Chicken Casserole Recipe (with Rice)

This BBQ chicken casserole is a great solution to the question of what to do with all of those leftovers!

Take that leftover barbecue chicken and put it into this delicious casserole, complete with sweet summer corn, crispy bacon and sharp cheddar cheese. 

Barbecues are the best part of summer! But living with the leftovers all week long can be super boring. Till now!

Our whole family loves this casserole – it’s a great way to use up our leftovers to create a totally different meal experience. 

Ingredients for Leftover BBQ Chicken Casserole

Here’s what you’ll need to make this barbecue chicken casserole:

• Chicken. We will typically use leftover chicken breast, whether it’s been grilled or barbecued. If we have chicken thighs, we’ll throw that meat in too. 
• Cooked rice. Plain white rice adds satisfying texture without overpowering the flavor.
• Tangy barbecue sauce. My favorite barbecue sauce is Carolina-style that’s not too sweet. But use whatever you like! 
• Cheddar cheese. Nothing melts like cheddar! Choose a sharp kind, and be sure to have some extra for sprinkling on top. 
• Corn. If you have leftover corn on the cob, simply shave the kernels off and use them in this casserole. You could also buy a can of corn kernels at the grocery store. 
• Diced tomatoes. They’re sold in a small can with diced green chiles. 
• Diced bacon. Save some fat and calories by opting for turkey bacon, or use the real deal. Whatever you like! 
• Sour cream
• Chopped green onions. We’re using a full cup for the recipe, and be sure to have extra on hand for garnishing the top of the casserole. 

How to Make this BBQ Chicken Casserole Recipe

Start with Cooked Ingredients

This family favorite is so easy to make when you start with cooked ingredients!

If you don’t have any leftover chicken, grab a store-bought rotisserie chicken and cut it into cubes. For the rice, grab a boil-in-bag type that you can put into boiling water for 10 minutes and it’s done.

The bacon will cook very quickly in a pan if you dice it up before you cook it. 

Combine all of the Ingredients

Now, put your entire list of ingredients into a large bowl and mix them until combined.

Transfer the whole thing to a baking dish, sprinkle the top with extra cheese and bake! 

Serving Suggestions for BBQ Chicken Casserole

This chicken casserole is complete meal in itself, but here are some of my favorite ways to round it out: 

1. Serve this casserole with a fresh green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette. The crunchy vegetables will balance the rich creaminess of the casserole. 

2. Add homemade tortillas to the meal. Spoon this chicken casserole into warm tortillas to create BBQ chicken quesadillas and tacos. 

3. Enjoy this casserole with more BBQ favorites like coleslaw and cornbread to complete the meal. 

Variations on this BBQ Chicken Casserole Recipe

1. The Meat. Chicken breast or thigh meat is perfect, but you could also use pulled or shredded chicken, cubed steak or even pork in this recipe. Anything goes! 

2. The Mix Ins. Trying adding black beans, diced red onion or pickled jalapeño peppers to this chicken and rice casserole for textural and flavor variation. 

3. The Cheese. There’s nothing like melty sharp cheddar, but you could also try pepper jack cheese for a kick of heat, or sprinkle the top with crumbled cotija cheese for a salty component.

How to Store Leftover BBQ Chicken Casserole

This casserole will stay fresh in the fridge for several days if you cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. The best way to store leftovers, though, is in an airtight container. 

For longer storage, you can definitely freeze this casserole. Pop it out of the freezer any time you need a quick and easy dinner. 

Can this recipe be doubled? 

This BBQ chicken casserole is an easy recipe to double! But you’ll need an extra baking dish. I do not recommend doubling the ingredients in the same casserole dish. 

Disposable aluminum tins are a great option for when you’re doubling this recipe to feed a crowd or for future meal prep. Make one and freeze one! 

When you make this BBQ chicken casserole recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

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For more easy meals, try these:

• Easy Tater Tot Casserole Recipe with Ground Turkey
• Easy and Creamy Jamaican Jerk Chicken Pasta
• Easy Taco Bake Recipe

For more chicken recipes, try these: 

• Chicken Laredo Recipe (Saltgrass Steakhouse Copycat)
• Creamy Cajun Smothered Chicken
• Herb Crusted Chicken Recipe (Texas Roadhouse Style)