Description
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole offers a delightful combination of flavors with tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and creamy cheese sauce, making it a preferred choice for quick dinners and family gatherings.
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 the liquid amount and cooking time; typically using chicken broth works well.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until golden brown for about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add chicken broth, olive oil, and rice to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, covering tightly. Cook for 6 minutes.
- Add broccoli to the pot, cover again, and cook for 9 more minutes until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed. If needed, simmer for an additional 5 minutes with the lid on.
- Keep covered, remove from heat, and let stand for 10 minutes without stirring to release any rice stuck at the bottom.
- Stir in cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, and half of the cheddar cheese until well combined.
- Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish, topping with remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Mix melted butter with crushed crackers and sprinkle over the casserole. Bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. Serve hot!
Notes
This casserole can be assembled ahead of time and stored in the freezer for later use.
For extra flavor, consider adding spices or herbs to the chicken before browning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg