Craving a creamy, cheesy casserole packed with flavor? This broccoli and chicken bake is calling your name. With just a handful of ingredients like shredded rotisserie chicken, broccoli, rice and gooey cheese, it comes together quickly for a meal everyone will love.
This easy chicken broccoli rice casserole is pure comfort food. It’s warm, satisfying and makes for fabulous leftovers. Not to mention, it couldn’t be simpler to put together. Just chop, mix, pour, bake and you’ll have a bubbling hot dish ready in under an hour. With a crisp browned cheese topping over a rich, creamy interior full of chicken and veggies, it’s irresistible.
Can I freeze the casserole?
Yes, this cheesy chicken and broccoli bake freezes very well. Allow it to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It will keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake covered with foil at 350°F until hot and bubbling, about 30 minutes.
What kind of rice works best?
Minute Rice is ideal since it cooks up light and fluffy in just 5 minutes. Long grain white rice or jasmine rice also works well. I don’t recommend using brown rice as it can make the casserole too dense or dry out as it bakes.
Can I use fresh broccoli instead of frozen?
Absolutely! Just be sure to steam or boil the broccoli until fork tender before adding to the casserole, about 5 minutes. Chop the broccoli into bite-size florets first.
What if I don’t have cream of chicken soup?
You can substitute an equal amount of cream of mushroom or celery soup. For a lower sodium option, replace the canned soup with a homemade cream sauce using chicken or vegetable broth thickened with a roux.
Can I prepare this in advance?
Yes! Assemble the casserole completely the night before and refrigerate overnight. Add 15-20 extra minutes to the covered baking time. You can also cover and refrigerate the baked and cooled casserole then reheat and add the cheese topping right before serving.
Ingredients
- 8 oz (227 g) cooked shredded rotisserie chicken
- 10 oz (283 g) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 10.5 oz (298 g) can cream of chicken condensed soup
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup (113 g) uncooked Minute Rice
- 4 oz (113 g) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- 4 oz (113 g) cubed Velveeta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Butter an 8×8 inch baking dish. If doubling the recipe, use a 9×13 inch baking dish instead.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked shredded chicken, thawed chopped broccoli, garlic powder, seasoned salt, onion powder and black pepper. Mix well.
- Add the condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, uncooked Minute Rice and 4 oz (113 g) of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly. Top with the remaining 2 oz (57 g) shredded cheddar cheese.
- Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Recipe by Ineskohl.info
- Remove foil and top with cubed Velveeta cheese. Broil for 1 minute until bubbly and lightly browned. Allow to sit for 15 minutes before serving.
The casserole will be hot, creamy and cheesy fresh from the oven. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s easy to throw together with simple ingredients.
This cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole comes together easily with a handful of pantry staples yet delivers maximum comfort and flavor. With tender shredded chicken, bright green broccoli florets and fluffy rice smothered in gooey melted cheese, it makes for a completely satisfying meal any night of the week. The preparation is simple enough for busy weeknights but it’s also special enough to serve guests. Pop it in the oven and let the heavenly aroma of this creamy bake fill your kitchen. In about an hour, you’ll have a bubbling hot dish to enjoy straight from the oven or refrigerate for easy leftovers later. However you make it, this chicken and broccoli rice casserole topped with melted cheddar is total crowd-pleasing comfort food at its finest.
