It can be difficult to put our affection for the simple casserole into words because there is just so much to appreciate about them. However, if we had to pick just one reason, it would undoubtedly be their capacity to provide you with a complete and cozy dinner in one dish. There is a casserole for every occasion, but this one is suitable for almost any of them. It’s creamy, cheesy, and a classic: Chicken Rice Casserole.

It’s a classic that we’re sure you’ve made before, but this version is worth trying again, we swear. The rice and chicken do not need to be cooked ahead of time. It’s only a matter of mixing your ingredients and putting them in the oven. (Just make sure the aluminum foil tightly covers the baking dish so that everything is fully cooked.)

This uses ordinary rice rather than the minute variety, so the grains are delicate yet retain their shape. The sauce calls for condensed cream of celery soup, but you could substitute cream of chicken or cream of mushroom if that’s what you had on hand. Happy eating!