Are you looking for more casserole recipes that will transform your kitchen forever? Our chicken broccoli rice recipe produces a cheesy chicken comfort food that, honestly, we think anyone will love. We’ve never found anyone who disagreed!
This super simple recipe is easy to dress up with your favorite seasonings, should you be so inclined! You can really let your imagination run wild as you add whatever seasonings and spices feel right for this rich and unforgettable dish.
What’s even better? This meal has ingredients that we’re sure are already in your fridge. So, if you’re doing an end-of-the-week fridge clean-out, you can easily take them and transform everything into a truly memorable one pan meal.
Amazingly, we think it tastes equally good on a warm spring day or a chilly fall afternoon. That makes it the epitome of comfort and one of our most diverse and enjoyable meals. Try it out tonight to see what you and your family have been missing.
If you want another one pan meal that will quickly become a family favorite, our Beefy King Ranch Casserole is one to try! It blends a variety of amazing tastes and textures into one coherent, flavorful package.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Surprisingly long shelf life in the fridge (makes it easy to serve extras later)
- Great blend of simple but tasty ingredients that hit the spot for most kids
- Fun little steps that your kids can help you with (many enjoy cooking)
- Very concentrated prep process, meaning you don’t dirty too many dishes
- Quick prep time means you get to spend more time with your kids
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Chicken: Obviously, you need some delicious (shredded) chicken for your chicken broccoli rice dish. While you can use tofu in your casserole recipes for a healthier mix, if you like, it always feels like a disappointment to me.
Rice: While this recipe calls for instant rice with your cheesy chicken, you can go with the real deal if you want. It just adds a little more cooking time, so be prepared to work around that.
Chicken Broth: A little bit of chicken broth helps make this an even tastier comfort food. Note that the blend of the broth with the cream of chicken and cream of onion soup you’ll add later is hard to replicate with alternatives.
Velveeta Cheese: Again, we pick this option because you probably already have it, and it tends to melt more easily. If you want to go with block cheese, it’s very doable. It just takes extra time.
Broccoli: This one meal is a family favorite because it turns broccoli into a more palatable, easy-to-enjoy veggie. Cauliflower also works with this comfort food, but it is harder for some people to enjoy.
Tips for Success
- Cut your chicken into bite-sized chunks for the best result, though shredded also works well
- Pick fresh broccoli from the store (not the frozen stuff) to truly get the best option
- Don’t forget to add whatever seasonings you want (we left it vague so you can experiment)
- Pre-melt any cheese you want to use if you’d rather avoid Velveeta blends
Storage & Reheating
How long can you store your chicken broccoli rice dish? Around 3-4 days in the fridge. While most cheesy chicken casserole recipes don’t use easy-to-spoil ingredients, that’s about how long your comfort food will last before it starts going pretty bad.
However, you can easily freeze this one pan meal family favorite meal for up to three months. Store it in a large plastic bag, seal it tightly, wrap it with more paper for extra protection, and thaw overnight in the refrigerator to avoid unnecessary moisture.
Serving Suggestions
A nice side salad (with tomatoes) pairs really well with this casserole
- Try some garlic bread to really complement this dish’s flavors
- Roasted vegetables offer a healthier side for this complex meal’s flavors
- Steamed green beans, in particular, taste great with this meal
- Some Parmesan cheese makes this already rich dish even tastier
Notes
For years, my kids swore up and down that they hated broccoli. I couldn’t find a way to make them try it out. One day, I slipped it into this cheesy chicken casserole. When they were done with their second helpings, I told them that they’d just eaten a lot of broccoli. After they stopped yelling at me, they admitted that they loved it. Since then, they’ve become dedicated broccoli hounds! I’ve heard stories of other families using this dish in the same way, so why not try it out today?
Here’s a Cheek Kitchen Cheesy Comfort Food Casserole Recipe to Try
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked white or brown rice
- 2 cups Cooked chicken breast shredded or diced
- 3 cups Fresh broccoli florets chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tbsp. Unsalted butter
- 1 Small yellow onion finely diced
- 2 Cloves garlic minced
- 3 tbsp. All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 cup Heavy whipping cream or whole milk
- ½ tsp. Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp. Garlic powder
- ½ tsp. Onion powder
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese shredded and divided
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a standard 9×13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
- Bring a small pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Drop in the chopped fresh broccoli florets and blanch them for exactly 2 minutes until bright green and slightly softened. Drain the broccoli into a colander and immediately rinse with cold tap water to stop the cooking process. Leave it to drain thoroughly.
- Melt the 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet or saucepan set over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until soft and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until highly fragrant.
- Sprinkle the 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour evenly over the sautéed onions and garlic. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon for 1 to 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour flavor, forming a thick paste.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth a little at a time, whisking vigorously to dissolve the flour paste completely and prevent lumps. Once smooth, whisk in the heavy whipping cream.
- Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens into a rich, glossy gravy baseline that easily coats the back of a spoon. Turn off the stovetop heat entirely.
- Stir in the Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and exactly 1 ½ cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Whisk firmly for 1 minute until the residual heat completely melts the cheese into a uniform, velvety sauce baseline.
- Add the cooked rice, diced chicken, and blanched broccoli florets directly into the skillet with the cheese sauce matrix. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together gently until every grain of rice and broccoli piece is completely coated.
- Pour the mixture straight into your prepared 9×13-inch baking dish, smoothing the top flat with your spatula.
- Scatter the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the entire surface of the casserole.
- Place the dish uncovered on the middle oven rack and bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes. The casserole is finished the exact moment the interior sauce is bubbling fiercely around the edges and the top cheese layer is completely melted and lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and let it stand flat on a cooling rack for 10 minutes before scooping. This resting window allows the rich cheese matrix to tighten slightly so it serves beautifully. Serve hot.
