Chicken, broccoli, and cheese form a classic and irresistible combination. Add creamy sauce and fluffy white rice to the mix, and you’ve crafted a delightfully comforting meal. This simple recipe combines all these components into an effortless one-pan dinner, ensuring you get your fill of protein, veggies, and heartwarming flavors.
This casserole is also an excellent option for utilizing leftover ingredients. It requires some pre-cooked chicken (any variety will do) and a few cups of cooked white rice—making it a perfect use for that leftover takeout rice. Since the chicken and rice are already cooked, assembling this dish is quick and straightforward, ideal for a hectic weeknight.
Easy Substitutions and Enhancements
- Don’t have fresh broccoli? Substitute it with frozen broccoli florets without thawing them first—just microwave according to the recipe’s instructions.
- Using a rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver for this dish.
- To intensify the chicken flavor, opt for cream of chicken soup instead of cream of onion or mushroom.
Creative Ideas for Leftovers
- Turkey Black Bean Enchiladas
- Bubble and Squeak
- Simple Vegetable Fried Rice
- Ham and Potato Soup
Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package broccoli florets, chopped into 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can of condensed cream of onion or mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow or Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken (about 12 ounces)
- 2 1/2 cups cooked white rice
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup coarsely crushed butter crackers (such as Ritz, about 15 crackers)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for greasing the baking dish
Method
- Preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Steam the broccoli: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, mix the broccoli with water. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and microwave until the broccoli is bright green and tender, about 3 minutes. Drain any remaining water.
- Prepare the casserole base: In a large bowl, whisk together the soup, sour cream, milk, mustard, garlic powder, and salt. Fold in the chicken, rice, steamed broccoli, and 1 cup of the cheese until well mixed.
- Prepare the topping: In a medium bowl, mix the crushed crackers, melted butter, and the remaining 1 cup of cheese until the crackers are well coated.
- Assemble and bake: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with some butter. Pour the broccoli mixture into the dish, spreading evenly. Evenly sprinkle the cracker topping over the casserole.
- Bake until the topping is golden brown and the casserole edges are bubbly, about 20 minutes. Allow cooling slightly before serving.
- Enjoy your meal! Don’t forget to leave a comment and rate the recipe below!
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Riley Morgan simplifies health and wellness topics, providing readers with practical advice and insights. Dedicated to empowering others, Riley covers everything from mental health to medical breakthroughs.