Description
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole combines tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and creamy cheddar for a comforting, easy meal perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken
- Salt/Pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ¼ cups white long grain rice, uncooked
- 2–3 cups fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
- 10.5 oz. cream of chicken soup, (condensed)
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, separated
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup ritz crackers, crushed
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Refer to your rice package for liquid quantity and cooking time, using chicken broth.
- Preheat your oven to 350° F, then cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken, cooking until golden brown (about 5 minutes). Remove and set aside.
- Combine chicken broth, olive oil, and rice in the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 6 minutes.
- Add broccoli, cover, and cook for an additional 9 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked with no liquid remaining. If needed, simmer for 5 more minutes with the lid on.
- Remove from heat (keep covered) and let stand for 10 minutes without stirring for the rice to release from the pot.
- Incorporate the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and half of the cheddar cheese. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Mix melted butter with crushed crackers and sprinkle over the top. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a quicker option, use rotisserie chicken to save prep time.
This casserole can be frozen before or after baking for easy meal prep.
Feel free to customize with your favorite vegetables or seasonings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg