This Chili Rice Bake is a combination of chili and rice in one dish. It is a tasty and convenient hot dish for any get-together or potluck.
It is inconceivable to have lived in Minnesota for any amount of time and not experience the joy and comfort of a hot dish. A hot dish is a baked casserole consisting of a starch, meat, vegetables, gravy, and a crusty top. The starch is typically potatoes or noodles and the gravy is often canned soup. The crusty top is achieved with a layer of cheese but fried chow mein noodles are often used as well.
The hot dish is a mainstay of potluck dinners during the cold months. We had a church potluck this weekend and I wanted to bring something gluten free. Instead of bringing the chili, rice, and the accompanying stuff separately, I decided to put them all together into this Chili Rice Bake hot dish. I am glad I did as it was so much easier to bring just that one dish in my handy dandy pyrex portable bag.
You may choose to cook the chili the day before. This way, you only need to cook the rice and assemble the dish prior to dinner or a potluck.

Chili Rice Bake
Ingredients
- 1 portion Chili (please refer to Chili Con Carne recipe)
- 6 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Grease a 9in x 13in pan. Spread rice onto the base of pan. Ladle chili onto rice. Spread sour cream on chili and sprinkle cheese on the top. Bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove and serve immediately.
Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎
Belinda @zomppa says
I like your thinking. I am all about the bake. All about it. You can stick it in, forget about it and poof, something completely filling! Love this.
simply.food says
A complte meal in one looks heartwarming .
5 Star Foodie says
Loving this bake with chili and rice, so delicious and satisfying!
PremalathaAravindhan says
Wow yummy rice…luks delicious.
Biren says
Hi Premalatha! Thanks for visiting!
sweetlife says
a perfect pot luck treat!! i love hot dishes and with chili con carne, yummy!!
missed your post, sorry was away so long!!
sweetlife
Biren says
I know, life gets busy. I miss you too! I hope you will visit again soon.
Nasi Lemak Lover says
This look so delicious 1
Anncoo says
Biren, I don’t mind to have this Chilli Rice Bake on my table too even the weather is hot and humid 🙂
Jasmine says
oh my! it look so delicious!! (:
Blackswan says
Thumbs up! This is like a cross between Lasagna & Doria 🙂 Nice one!
Pachecopatty says
Hi Biren, looks like a hot dish to warm you up on one of your cold nights;-)
kitchen flavours says
This hot dish is welcome in our hot climate here as well! Look delish, have not had rice in a chili dish before!
LeQuan says
This is such a creative and interesting dish. It’s kind of like an Asian fusion using chili and rice, but baked into a casserole. Very smart of you to combine everything for easy travel and handling. Would love this hot dish to keep me warm in this cold weather.
Joanne says
I’ve heard of this hot dishes before and I’m so intrigued by them! Yours looks delicious. Total comfort food!
DongXing says
Biren, another clever and fuss-free idea! I do like it. Something that you could make, assemble and bring to a party and bake at the host’s oven. In the past, I always have to bring the rice cooker to cook the rice, and the accompanied chilli pot and garnishings to go – so many things to bring….
Biren says
Yes, this is so much easier than bringing the slow cooker and a bunch of other stuff. Will definitely be doing this again. 🙂
Tiffany says
What a great idea and I could totally make this veggie!
Biren says
Most definitely Tiffany! It would be equally tasty with just rice and beans. 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny says
I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in the Mid-West but I LOVE casseroles. This recipe would surly make me happy. I love all the flavors…yum!
sarah says
That looks so perfect n yumm!!
Magic of Spice says
Major comfort food…I think this would make a beautiful vegetarian dish as well so my family would not get it all :)This is a great recipe!
Biren says
I will have to make more comfort food as we are expecting some more snow. This can definitely be made vegetarian with a variety of beans if you prefer. Can’t go wrong with rice and beans. 🙂
Jeannie says
This looks like a delicious complete meal on it’s own…I wouldn’t mind having that:)
penny aka jeroxie says
Rice bake. Yes and why not?
Zoe says
Delicious! Our family love bake rice. With chilli…Wow!
Sanjeeta kk says
Looks like now I know what to do with my leftover rice 🙂
Suchitra says
looks super good- loved the pictures and the presentation gets a gold star 😉
Katie@Cozydelicious says
I have never heard the term ‘hot dish’ but it is so fitting for a yummy casserole in the middle of winter! And this looks fantastic – so much flavor. Yum!
Stella says
Oh Biren, you know, whenever I look at your food it is so often something I make now or a dish that reminds me of my past. I had the best rice bake like this when I was a young teen. I still remember how delicious I thought it was. I was visiting a friend from South America-her Mom made it. I’m not good with casseroles, but maybe I’ll try this.
p.s. I made your hasselbacks. Yummerz:-)
denise @ bread expectations says
I didn’t know this sort of gratin/casserole type dish had a specific name in MN and is a local favourite. I sometimes make something very similar with left over rice or short pasta and stews, braises or curries when the family has had enough of fried rice. This is definitely yummy, comforting and very satisfying!