Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
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Posted: 12/16/24
Updated: 12/17/24
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This one pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a delicious and easy dinner option. Made with simple ingredients and cooked all in one pot, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
It’s easy comfort food time! Did you know that you can make a casserole on the stove top? Yep, this cheesy chicken broccoli and rice casserole is made in your dutch oven on the stovetop. It’s so super easy to make and always turns out creamy and comforting. A family favorite meal that is great for busy weeknights or when you need something hearty and warming.
One pot, stovetop meals are a life-saver when it comes to busy life. This one pot pizza pasta is something my kids ask for all the time. And I personally love the classic one pot chicken spaghetti. But this cheesy chicken broccoli and rice casserole is a combo of flavors that is just so delicious and makes such a great way to sneak in extra veggies. You’re gonna love this yummy dish!
Why You’ll Love Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Clean-up is so easy since you only have a few prep dishes and then one pot to clean. Great for those days when the last thing you want to do is clean up dinner dishes.
- This is a yummy all-in-one meal. Protein, veggies and a carb in one simple meals!
- Bring this dish to potlucks and parties. It travels well and everyone always enjoys the creamy combo of flavors.
Ingredients for Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Broccoli – Fresh broccoli is best for this easy dinner recipe, but you can use frozen broccoli if that’s what you have on hand.
- White rice – Grab a cup of your favorite white rice to make this casserole.
- Milk – I like to use whole milk for extra creamy results, but you can use 2% milk or skim if you need it.
- Sour cream – This makes the cheesy chicken broccoli and rice casserole extra extra creamy.
- Chicken broth – Use chicken broth in this dish to cook the rice and make it really flavorful.
- Cream of chicken soup – A key ingredient to this casserole! It elevates the flavor and makes this dish really creamy. You can use cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery too.
- Onion – Dice up a yellow onion or white onion to use in this dish.
- Cheddar cheese – You can use a different type of cheese if you need to. Colby jack, Monterey jack and mozzarella would all be great options.
- Minced garlic – Mince some garlic cloves to add to this dish and create loads of flavor.
- Olive oil – Sauté onion and minced garlic in some olive oil! You can use a different type of high heat oil to sauté if needed.
- Chicken breast – Dice up chicken breast into 1 inch bite size pieces so that it cooks thoroughly and is evenly distributed throughout the casserole dish.
- Salt and black pepper – Season this dish with some salt and black pepper.
- Italian seasoning – Add a little herby flavor with some Italian seasoning.
Helpful Tools
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
- Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven over medium-high heat. Then add chopped onion and cubed chicken.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken starts to brown a bit and is no longer pink. Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until garlic gets aromatic.
- Add the rice, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, milk and sour cream. Start with 2 cups of chicken broth and then add more if needed until rice is fully cooked.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and cook over medium heat until the rice is fully cooked.
- Add the broccoli florets and half of the cheese, then continue cooking for 2 more minutes, until broccoli softens a bit. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and place the lid on the dutch oven for 3-4 minutes and let the cheese melt.
- Remove from heat and let sit 2 minutes before serving.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container for the easiest storage.
FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZER: You can also freeze your leftovers! Just place into a freezer safe container and then store for up to 3 months.
Is it better to use fresh or frozen broccoli in a casserole?
I find that it is best to use fresh broccoli in a casserole. The texture is so much better and the flavor is more fresh as well. However, frozen broccoli will work too. Just make sure there isn’t a lot of ice crystals on it because that can end up making the casserole pretty watery.
Why is my broccoli casserole runny?
Frozen broccoli can often release excess water when cooked. So if you used frozen instead of fresh, that could have contributed to a watery casserole. It’s also important to ensure you have the right ratio of liquid to rice. And then make sure the rice gets fully cooked so that it absorbs all of the liquid.
What to Serve with Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Serve this creamy casserole dish with some cheesy garlic bread or buttery soft Texas roadhouse rolls. You can also serve up some extra veggies with this dish too. Roasted vegetables go great with it, and air fryer potatoes would be yummy as well.
Even though this dish has protein in it, you can also serve it as a side dish if you want! It’d be tasty alongside blackened chicken or even some crispy pork schnitzel.
Pro Tips for the Best Broccoli Chicken Casserole
- Wanna cut out some prep time? Shred up rotisserie chicken or use leftover cooked chicken in this dish.
- For the most melty, cheesy results shred cheese off of a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
- Don’t have a dutch oven? Not to worry. You can make this casserole in a large pot or simply saute the onion and garlic and cook the chicken, then add it to a baking dish and bake in the oven!
This chicken broccoli and rice casserole is too good to eat just one serving of! So make plenty for the whole fam because they’re going to want seconds.
More Cheesy Casserole Recipes You’ll Love!
- Turn a cheesy pepperoni pizza into this amazing, family friendly Pizza Casserole.
- Cheesy Ham Casserole is the coziest thing to make on a chilly evening!
- Who says casseroles are only for dinner? This Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole is cheesy, buttery and so easy to make.
- Need more sneaky veggies? Make Cheesy Carrot Casserole!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
This one pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a delicious and easy dinner option. Made with simple ingredients and cooked all in one pot, it's perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 chicken breasts cut into small cubes, about 1 pound
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 10 ounces cream of chicken soup 1 can
- 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven on medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and cubed chicken. Cook for about 5 minutes until the chicken starts to brown a bit and is no longer pink. Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Stir in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until garlic gets aromatic.
- Add the rice, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, milk and sour cream. Start with 2 cups of chicken broth and add more if needed until rice is fully cooked.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and cook over medium heat until the rice is fully cooked, stirring occasionally, should take about 15-20 minutes .
- Add the broccoli florets and half the cheese then continue cooking for 2 more minutes, until broccoli softens a bit. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and place the lid on the dutch oven for 3-4 minutes and let the cheese melt.
- Remove from heat and let sit 2 minutes before serving.
Tips
Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container for the easiest storage.
FRIDGE: Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZER: You can also freeze your leftovers! Just place into a freezer safe container and then store for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 459kcal (23%), Carbohydrates: 36g (12%), Protein: 30g (60%), Fat: 22g (34%), Saturated Fat: 9g (56%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 93mg (31%), Sodium: 752mg (33%), Potassium: 614mg (18%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 3g (3%), Vitamin A: 727IU (15%), Vitamin C: 30mg (36%), Calcium: 293mg (29%), Iron: 2mg (11%)
Elaine says
I love that this is an all-in-one meal! Soo tasty and easy. I used to make a very similar recipe when I was in college, so its also very nostalgic for me.