Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake with Broccoli: The ingredients for this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole are tasty rice cooked in chicken broth, crunchy Ritz crackers, and homemade condensed or Campbell’s soup. Use a rotisserie chicken or cook some fresh chicken!
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake With Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- Salt or pepper, to taste
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups white long grain rice, uncooked
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
- 10.5 oz. Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, separated
Optional Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Casserole Topping
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Set oven temperature to 350°F.
- Slice the chicken into small pieces and add the appropriate quantity of salt and pepper along with the Italian seasoning.
- In a big pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown on all sides. Take out and place aside. Note: If you’re using a cooked rotisserie chicken, you may skip this step.
- Rice, olive oil, and chicken stock should all be added to the saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer.
- For six minutes, cook with a tight cover.
- Replace the cover after adding the broccoli. Cook the rice for a further nine minutes, or until it is cooked through and there is no liquid left in the saucepan. (If it’s not cooked through yet, simply put the top back on and simmer for an additional five minutes.)
- Keep the cover on and turn off the heat. Do not stir the rice; let it stand for ten minutes. There will be a release of any rice that is on the bottom.
- Incorporate the cooked chicken, half of the cheddar cheese, milk, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, and desired seasonings.
- Transfer to a 9 x 13 casserole dish, lightly buttered, and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
ALSO SEE
Nutrition
- Calories: 511kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 100mg, Sodium: 1174mg,
- Potassium: 470mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1068IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 376mg, Iron: 2mg
NOTES
- Using Frozen Broccoli: A suitable substitute for fresh broccoli is two cups of frozen broccoli (and/or cauliflower).
- Just make sure to pat it dry after thawing. Although frozen broccoli is already partially cooked, you might want to think about steaming it for an additional five minutes or so to give the dish a softer texture.
- For optimal results, shred your own cheddar cheese at home from a block. Because it melts so beautifully, I use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow cheese. Don’t use aged or crystallized cheeses because they won’t melt properly.
- Try my homemade cream of chicken soup instead of the can!
- Next, make sure to check out my rice casseroles with ground beef and ham!
TIPS
Don’t Use Minute Rice
- I highly recommend you use regular long grain rice instead of minute rice:
- Long grain rice = creamier consistency. Short grain rice tends to be stickier.
- Regular rice has higher nutritional value and better flavor.
Using Brown or Wild Rice
- These varieties take longer to cook and require more liquid than white long grain rice.
- Refer to the package for the required amount of liquid and cooking time, and adjust the amount of chicken broth that you use per package instructions.
Using Frozen Broccoli
- 2 cups of frozen broccoli (and/or cauliflower) can also be used. Just be sure you thaw and pat it dry!
- Frozen broccoli is already blanched (partially cooked), but you may want to consider steaming it as well for a softer texture in the casserole.
Using Rotisserie Chicken
- This is a great casserole for rotisserie chicken, 2 cups is the perfect quantity to use.
- Since rotisserie chicken can sometimes be salted, consider using low sodium chicken broth so that your meal doesn’t turn out overly salty.
