If you’re looking for a rich, satisfying, and incredibly easy dinner idea, Angel Chicken Rice is a must-try recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. This beloved Southern-inspired dish combines tender chicken breasts with a velvety cream sauce made from Italian dressing mix, cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and white wine or broth — all served over fluffy white rice or delicate angel hair pasta.
Whether you’re feeding your family on a busy weeknight or hosting guests for a comforting meal, Angel Chicken Rice is a hands-down winner. It’s cozy, flavorful, and irresistibly creamy — just the kind of hearty food we all crave.
Why You’ll Love Angel Chicken Rice
🍗 Super easy to make with everyday ingredients
🍚 Comfort food classic that’s family-friendly and kid-approved
🧄 Creamy, herby sauce that pairs perfectly with rice or pasta
🍽️ Ideal for weeknights, potlucks, or Sunday dinner
🥘 Makes excellent leftovers — even better the next day
👨👩👧👦 Serves a crowd without breaking the bank
What Is Angel Chicken?
Angel Chicken refers to a Southern-style creamy chicken dish made with:
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- Cream of chicken soup
- Cream cheese
- Italian dressing mix
- White wine or chicken broth
Traditionally, it’s served over angel hair pasta, hence the name. But many home cooks love it served over steamed rice, egg noodles, or even mashed potatoes. It’s a rich, saucy comfort dish that’s simple enough for a weeknight and satisfying enough for company.
Ingredients for Angel Chicken Rice
Here’s what you’ll need:
🍗 For the Chicken and Sauce:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 packet (0.7 oz) Italian dressing mix (like Good Seasons)
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cubed
- ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth)
- ¼ cup butter
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: garlic powder, onion powder, fresh parsley
🍚 For Serving:
- Cooked white rice, jasmine rice, or angel hair pasta
- Steamed vegetables or side salad
How to Make Angel Chicken Rice (Oven or Crockpot)
🔥 Oven Method (One Pan)
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 1: Arrange Chicken
Place the chicken breasts in the baking dish. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if desired.
Step 2: Make Sauce
In a saucepan over medium heat:
- Melt the butter
- Stir in Italian dressing mix, cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, and white wine or broth
- Cook, whisking until the sauce is smooth and creamy
💡 Do not let the sauce boil — heat until just combined and creamy.
Step 3: Pour & Bake
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken
- Cover with foil and bake for 45–50 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temp)
- Remove foil and bake another 5–10 minutes if needed to thicken sauce
Step 4: Serve
- Spoon the creamy chicken and sauce over hot steamed rice or pasta
- Garnish with chopped parsley or shredded parmesan if desired
🐢 Slow Cooker Method (Set It & Forget It)
- Place raw chicken in the crockpot
- In a separate bowl, mix the sauce ingredients together
- Pour sauce over chicken
- Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours or HIGH for 2.5–3.5 hours
- Shred or slice chicken and serve with rice
🧈 The slow cooker method creates extra tender, fall-apart chicken!
Variations and Add-Ins
🌿 Add mushrooms or spinach for a veggie boost
🧅 Stir in sautéed onions or garlic for extra depth
🧀 Top with mozzarella, parmesan, or cheddar cheese
🍄 Use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken
🔥 Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for gentle heat
🌾 Serve over wild rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice for a lighter option
What to Serve with Angel Chicken Rice
🥗 Green salad with a tangy vinaigrette
🥦 Steamed broccoli or roasted asparagus
🍞 Warm dinner rolls or garlic bread
🥔 Mashed potatoes or egg noodles
🍷 A glass of chilled white wine (like Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay)
Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing
🧊 Make-Ahead:
- Prepare the dish up to the baking step
- Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours
- Add an extra 10 minutes to baking time if chilled
🧊 Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
- Reheat in microwave or oven with a splash of broth or milk to loosen sauce
❄️ Freezing:
- Freeze cooked chicken and sauce (separately from rice) for up to 3 months
- Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating
Tips for the Best Angel Chicken
✅ Use softened cream cheese for smoother sauce
✅ Don’t boil the sauce — it can break or curdle
✅ Season your chicken before adding sauce
✅ Add a little grated parmesan for richer flavor
✅ Use thighs for extra juicy results
Nutrition Information (Per Serving – serves 4–6)
- Calories: 480–550
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 12–15g (without rice)
- Sodium: ~850mg
- Sugar: 2g
Varies based on cream soup brand and pasta vs. rice serving
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this without wine?
Yes! Use chicken broth or vegetable broth instead. You’ll still get a delicious, creamy sauce.
Can I use frozen chicken?
For oven: thaw first for even cooking.
For crockpot: you can use frozen breasts but cook on LOW for 6–7 hours to ensure safety and tenderness.
Can I make this recipe keto-friendly?
Yes! Use cauliflower rice or zoodles for serving. Choose a low-carb cream soup or make a homemade keto version.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely. Just use a larger casserole dish or slow cooker and adjust cooking time as needed.
Why This Recipe Works
✅ Combines savory herbs, creaminess, and tender chicken
✅ Great over any starch: rice, noodles, mashed potatoes
✅ One of the easiest comfort food recipes to prepare
✅ Crowd-pleaser with minimal prep and maximum flavor
✅ Works for busy nights, freezer meals, or meal prep
Final Thoughts: A Southern-Style Comfort Classic
Angel Chicken Rice is the kind of recipe that tastes like a hug in a bowl. Creamy, herby, and hearty — this dish is a true comfort food classic that never goes out of style. Whether you make it in the oven or the slow cooker, serve it over rice or pasta, or dress it up with veggies and herbs — it’s the kind of recipe that becomes a regular on your table.
Make it once, and it might just become your family’s new favorite.
Print
Angel Chicken Rice: The Ultimate Creamy Comfort Food Dinner
Ingredients
• 1 lb chicken breast, cooked and shredded • 8 oz angel hair pasta, broken into pieces • 2 cups chicken broth • 1 cup long grain rice • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tbsp butter • 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 cup sour cream • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped • 1 tsp thyme • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in large skillet
- Sauté onion and garlic until soft
- Add chicken broth, rice, and pasta pieces
- Bring to boil, then reduce heat
- Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes until rice is tender
- Stir in butter and season with salt and pepper
- In separate pan, heat sour cream gently
- Fold sour cream into rice mixture
- Add shredded chicken and thyme
- Stir in half the cheese
- Transfer to baking dish
- Top with remaining cheese
- Bake 15 minutes at 350°F until bubbly
- Garnish with fresh parsley
PREP TIME & NUTRITION: Prep Time: 15 mins, Cook Time: 30 mins, Total Time: 45 mins, Servings: 6, Calories: 420, Net Carbs: 35g, Fats: 18g, Protein: 28g