By Becky Hardin
Published Jan 29, 2018
Chicken Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole is a favorite comfort food recipe. This casserole is loaded with everything that makes you think of home, and you’ll be shocked how easy it is to put together. This Chicken and Rice Casserole with broccoli and cheese is the type of cheesy recipe your family will request time and time again.
Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Chicken and Rice Casserole with Broccoli (and CHEESE) is the of the best chicken casseroles . This is one of my favorite easy dinner recipes.
If you’re in need of a comforting, easy, CHEESY meal to make your family this week, can I please suggest this chicken broccoli cheese and rice casserole?
There’s just something so homey about rice, broccoli, chicken, and cheese. Seems like something ole Marie Callendar would make, but so much better. Get to cookin’ this amazing dish!
Broccoli Rice Casserole with Chicken
Broccoli Rice Casserole is SO simple to throw together, great for making and ahead and freezing for a friend, or reheating for lunch throughout the week.
I love casseroles because they’re an entire meal in one. We have made so many casseroles on here and some of our faves include Chicken Pot Pie Casserole , Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole , and Enchilada Stuffed Pepper Casserole .
When you make this for dinner, you don’t need an extra side dish. This is main course and side dish in one.
This chicken broccoli cheese rice casserole is the type of recipe that warms the soul while it fills your belly. Its the kind of meal you’ll make again and again when you’re just not sure what to make for dinner. You’ll likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen already, so it’s just a matter of tossing them together and baking them to perfection. I wish I would have realized years ago that recipes like this existed. I would have eaten a lot less frozen dinners!
If you’ve never tried Chicken and Rice Casserole it is TIME…tonight! This EASY casserole recipe is a must make for anyone who loves comfort food.
I hope this Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole warms your home this Winter! It’s a cold one! We all need some easy casseroles in our lives for seasons like this. Looking for some good bread pairings to serve alongside this Chicken and Rice Casserole? Be sure to check out our Icebox Dinner Rolls or Beer Bread Muffins . YUM!
See the recipe card below for details on How to Make Chicken and Rice Casserole. Enjoy!
Looking for more chicken comfort food recipe? Try these favorites:
- Oven Fried Chicken
- Chicken Divan Casserole
- Spinach Dip Stuffed Chicken
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Queso Smothered Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken CousCous with Bacon and Corn
- Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Basil Cream Chicken Recipe
- 40 Clove Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients1x2x3x
For Topping:
- ▢ 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
- ▢ ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon smoky paprika
For Casserole:
- ▢ 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- ▢ 2 cups long-grain white rice
- ▢ 1 bag frozen broccoli
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ ½ teaspoon ground sweet curry or mild curry
- ▢ Meat from 1 Rotisserie chicken or 3 medium-sized boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ▢ Kosher salt
- ▢ Freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ 4 tablespoons canola or olive oil divided
- ▢ 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ▢ ½-1 medium sweet yellow onion diced & sautéed
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 1¼ cup half-and-half
- ▢ 2 cups shredded cheddar or Gruyere cheese or a blend of both
Video
Instructions
For the Topping:
- In a small bowl, combine crushed crackers, butter, Parmesan and paprika. Set aside.
For the Casserole:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring chicken stock to a boil and add the rice, broccoli, salt, black pepper and sweet curry. Stir once, cover, reduce heat to low and cook 18-20 minutes or until rice and broccoli are tender.
- While rice and broccoli cook:
- If using rotisserie chicken, cut the chicken into 1/2-inch cubes or shred the chicken meat (your preference).
- If using chicken breasts, sprinkle breasts with salt & pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons oil to the pan and heat until the oil shimmers. Carefully place the breasts in skillet and cook 4-5 minutes per side (depending on the size of the breasts). Turn off heat and transfer breasts to a paper towel-lined plate to rest (the chicken will continue to cook a bit and will finish cooking while in the oven). Tent the chicken with foil and allow to rest a few minutes, then cut into cubes.
- Scoop out the skillet drippings and use the same skillet for sautéing the onions & garlic. If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons oil and 1-2 tablespoons butter.
- In the skillet over medium heat, place the diced onions and cook until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic, stir and turn off the heat.
- Add the cut-up chicken, sautéed onion/garlic mixture, half-and-half and cheese to the rice mixture. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. *See Note.
- Sprinkle the cracker topping over the broccoli rice mixture.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbly.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
For Topping:
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ¼ teaspoon smoky paprika
For Casserole:
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- 2 cups long-grain white rice
- 1 bag frozen broccoli
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground sweet curry or mild curry
- Meat from 1 Rotisserie chicken or 3 medium-sized boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons canola or olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½-1 medium sweet yellow onion diced & sautéed
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1¼ cup half-and-half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar or Gruyere cheese or a blend of both
Instructions
For the Topping:
- In a small bowl, combine crushed crackers, butter, Parmesan and paprika. Set aside.
For the Casserole:
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Bring chicken stock to a boil and add the rice, broccoli, salt, black pepper and sweet curry. Stir once, cover, reduce heat to low and cook 18-20 minutes or until rice and broccoli are tender.
- While rice and broccoli cook:
- If using rotisserie chicken, cut the chicken into 1/2-inch cubes or shred the chicken meat (your preference).
- If using chicken breasts, sprinkle breasts with salt & pepper. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons oil to the pan and heat until the oil shimmers. Carefully place the breasts in skillet and cook 4-5 minutes per side (depending on the size of the breasts). Turn off heat and transfer breasts to a paper towel-lined plate to rest (the chicken will continue to cook a bit and will finish cooking while in the oven). Tent the chicken with foil and allow to rest a few minutes, then cut into cubes.
- Scoop out the skillet drippings and use the same skillet for sautéing the onions & garlic. If necessary, add 1-2 tablespoons oil and 1-2 tablespoons butter.
- In the skillet over medium heat, place the diced onions and cook until onions are translucent. Add minced garlic, stir and turn off the heat.
- Add the cut-up chicken, sautéed onion/garlic mixture, half-and-half and cheese to the rice mixture. Mix well.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. *See Note.
- Sprinkle the cracker topping over the broccoli rice mixture.
- Bake 20-25 minutes or until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbly.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
