Best Butternut Squash Wild Rice Casserole Recipes

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole with Butternut Squash and Cranberries Recipe image

Provided by rbotzl01

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 cup uncooked wild rice blend (3 cups cooked)
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 small butternut squash, about 1 1/2 pounds, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 5 cups cubes)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme, plus additional for garnish
3/4 cup dried cranberries (I prefer the ones with reduced sugar)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided (about 2 ounces)

Steps:

1. Cook the rice according to package directions. Drain off any excess cooking liquid and set aside. 2. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside. 3. In a large, deep skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced chicken and sauté until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink on the inside, about 6 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. 4. With a paper towel, carefully wipe the skillet clean. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium. Add the diced squash, onions, salt, and pepper. Sauté until the onion begins to soften, about 2 minutes. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender but still retains some chew, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the thyme, cranberries, reserved chicken, rice, and 1/4 cup Parmesan. 5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake 5 additional minutes, until the cheese melts. Sprinkle with additional chopped fresh thyme and serve warm.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-WILD RICE CASSEROLE image

Yield 10-12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 - 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
2 6 ounce packagelong grain and wild rice mix
3/4 cup chopped onions
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped carrots
1/3 cup butter
2 10 1/2 - 10 3/4 ounce cancondensed chicken with white and wild rice soup or cream of chicken soup
1 8 ounce carton sour cream
2/3 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
1/4 cup snipped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
1 1/2 cups finely shredded Parmesan cheese (6 ounces)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large bowl toss squash with oil to coat; spread into a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Roast about 20 minutes or until light brown and tender, stirring twice. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. 2. Meanwhile, prepare rice mix according to package directions; set aside. In a large skillet cook onions, celery, and carrots in hot butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in soup, sour cream, wine, and basil. Stir in cooked rice mix, roasted squash, and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. 3. Transfer rice mixture to a 2-1/2- to 3-quart casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until heated through. From the Test Kitchen Prepare as directed, except cool cooked rice, roasted squash, and cooked vegetables before combining with ingredients in Step 2. Stir in 1/2 cup milk with the soup and sour cream. Turn off oven. Cover tightly; chill for up to 24 hours. To serve, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of squash mixture registers 165 degrees F.