Description
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole offers irresistible flavors with easy prep, featuring tender chicken, crunchy broccoli, and creamy cheese for a comforting meal.
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
- Prepare your rice according to package instructions, using chicken broth as the liquid.
- Preheat the oven to 350° F and cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, seasoning them with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- In the same pot, combine chicken broth, olive oil, and rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 6 minutes.
- Add broccoli, cover again, and cook for an additional 9 minutes or until the rice is fully cooked. If needed, simmer for 5 more minutes after replacing the lid.
- Remove from heat and let the rice stand covered for 10 minutes without stirring.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and half of the cheddar cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Combine melted butter with crushed crackers and sprinkle over the top. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For best results, allow the casserole to rest before serving for improved flavor integration.
You can substitute rotisserie chicken for convenience or use any leftover chicken.
The casserole can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the freezer for quick meals.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the casserole
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg