Cheesy Rice Casserole with Chicken and Broccoli

Cheesy rice casserole mixes together juicy chicken with cooked broccoli covered in cheese for a dinner that we can enjoy together.

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It’s no surprise that I LOVE cheese. Seriously. Especially cheddar cheese. I will eat almost anything with cheddar cheese on it. So when I found this recipe for a cheesy chicken and rice casserole with broccoli smothered in cheddar cheese deliciousness, I just had to give it a try! And bonus, it’s a one-pan meal, so easy to clean up as well.

Chicken is the one meat that everyone here can agree on. If you ask Ryan, he will say, “Mmmm chicken is yummy.” And it’s one of the few types of meat that Tyler will eat most of the time. Broccoli is another thing we all agree on. And it’s green, so I like to get that in when we can. The boys still have a little trouble with rice sometimes because it’s a little harder to pick up, but they mostly ate the chicken and broccoli. And of course, we all agree on the cheese!

Serving Suggestions & Tips

• Switch the chicken for beef to make a cheesy ground beef casserole dish. Or omit the meat altogether for a great way to make an easy side dish for a meaty main dish
• You can use long grain rice, white rice, jasmine rice, or wild rice for this recipe. Just make sure it isn’t minute rice or it will cook too quickly. 
• Mix in extra seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, chili powder, or red pepper flakes. 
• Add more vegetables such as green peppers, sliced green onions, or diced cauliflower.
• For this meal, you will want to use a large skillet, preferably made of cast iron with decent sides to it because it does start to get pretty full. 

Cheesy Rice Casserole Step by Step

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
• 2 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets (chopped)
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

Preparation

Start by putting a bit of olive oil in the pan, and sautéing your chopped onion over medium heat.

Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season it with salt and pepper. Then add it to the pan with the onions and turn the heat up to medium-high to let the chicken cook through.

Once the chicken is cooked, push it to the side of the pan and add the rest of the olive oil. Then add the rice and saute it for a few minutes. I was a little skeptical of this step, I’ve never made rice this way, but it worked!

Add the chicken broth to the pan and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat back down to a simmer, and cover the pan.

Cook the chicken and rice in the broth for about 10-12 minutes, covered, while stirring occasionally.

Add the broccoli to the pan and cover the pan again. Cook another 8-10 minutes, or until the broccoli and rice are tender. Most of the broth will cook into the chicken and rice and evaporate.

Remove the pan from the heat. Mix about 1/2 cup of the cheese into the casserole, then cover with the rest of the cheese.

Cover the pan again and let it sit for a few minutes so the cheese can melt on top of the casserole.

Serve immediately! I know it doesn’t look too pretty, but trust me, this chicken rice casserole makes up for it in taste!

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole with Chicken Leftovers

Storage: Let the leftover casserole cool to room temperature then cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil or move it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for 2-3 days. 

Reheating: The best way to reheat this easy broccoli rice casserole recipe is in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through, about 5-10 minutes. Stir often so the cheesy goodness doesn’t burn to the bottom of the pan. If it’s dry, you can add a cup of milk, chicken broth, sour cream, heavy cream, or a cup of water. 

Recipe

Cheesy Rice Casserole with Chicken and Broccoli

Cheesy rice casserole mixes together juicy chicken with cooked broccoli covered in cheese for a dinner that we can enjoy together.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Course:

Main Dish

Cuisine:

American

Keyword:

broccoli

|

cheese

|

chicken

|

rice

Dietary Needs:

Egg-Free

Meat:

Chicken/Turkey

Cooking Method:

One-Pan Meals

Servings: 4 servings

4.75 from 4 votes

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
• 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• Salt & Pepper (to taste)
• 1 cup brown rice (uncooked)
• 2 1/2 cups fresh broccoli florets (chopped)
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)

Recommended Equipment

• Chef Knife
• Cutting Board
• Garlic Press
• Box Grater
• Skillet

Instructions

• In a large pan, sauté onions in two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat
• Chop chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt and pepper
• Once onions soften, increase the heat to medium high and add chicken
• Brown the chicken and add the garlic
• Push chicken to one side of pan and add additional tablespoon of olive oil to pan
• Add the uncooked rice in the olive oil and saute it for a couple of minutes
• Add the chicken broth to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil
• Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pan with a lid
• Cook chicken and rice mixture, covered, for about 10-12 minutes
• Add broccoli and stir to combine
• Continue to cook, covered, another 8-10 minutes on low, or until broccoli and rice are both tender
• Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup of cheese
• Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover with a lid, letting it sit for 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted

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Nutrition Facts

Cheesy Rice Casserole with Chicken and Broccoli

Amount Per Serving (1 cup)

Calories 656 Calories from Fat 297

% Daily Value*

Fat 33g51%

Saturated Fat 14g70%

Cholesterol 131mg44%

Sodium 1041mg43%

Potassium 919mg26%

Carbohydrates 43g14%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 44g88%

Vitamin A 955IU19%

Vitamin C 63.9mg77%

Calcium 470mg47%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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