In a bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until smooth and well combined. Season the mixture with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Place the chicken chunks directly into your crockpot, then pour the soup mixture over the chicken, stirring gently to coat all pieces evenly. This approach ensures the seasonings are fully dissolved before cooking begins, which creates better flavor distribution throughout the dish.

Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or on high for 4-5 hours, until the chicken is completely tender and easily breaks apart with a fork. I like using the low setting when I have the time because it allows the chicken to stay more moist and the flavors to develop more fully. The cooking time may vary depending on your crockpot's strength, so start checking at the lower end of your chosen time range.

Remove the chicken from the crockpot and place it on a cutting board or shallow bowl. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, prepare the instant rice according to package directions using the same amount of boiling water and salt as instructed—this ensures the rice has the right texture before combining with the creamy mixture.

Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it back into the soup mixture. Add the prepared rice from Step 3 and stir everything together until well combined. Fold in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, stirring until it begins to melt into the warm mixture. This helps distribute the cheese flavor throughout the casserole evenly rather than having it concentrated only on top.

Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the mixture in the crockpot. Cover and let sit for 5-10 minutes to allow the cheese to melt completely into a creamy layer. For a more melted, integrated top, I sometimes leave the crockpot on the warm setting during this final melting stage. Once the cheese has melted and the mixture has thickened slightly, give it a gentle stir and serve directly from the crockpot.