Have you been looking for an easy chicken broccoli casserole recipe? Look no further! This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is an easy recipe that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The casserole is made with chicken, broccoli, and rice and is topped with delicious cheese. This casserole is sure to become a family favorite.
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Why This Recipe Works
- One-Pot Wonder: This casserole combines chicken, broccoli, and rice in one delicious dish.
- Family-Friendly: A hearty meal that's sure to be a hit with the whole family.
- Easy Leftovers: Makes for great leftovers, providing quick, tasty meals for busy days ahead.
📋 Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts: Provides lean protein, making the dish filling and hearty. Its mild flavor complements the other ingredients.
- Rice: Serves as a filling base that soaks up the flavors of the chicken, broccoli, and soup.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Acts as a flavorful binder that holds the ingredients together and adds creamy richness.
- Frozen Broccoli: Introduces a pop of color and a slightly bitter, earthy flavor that contrasts with the creamy soup and rice.
- Milk: Adds creaminess to the casserole and helps to create a smooth, velvety texture in the final dish.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds a cheesy taste to this delicious recipe.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Chicken: If you don't have chicken breasts you may use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this delicious meal.
- Brown Rice: switch the long grain white rice for brown rice for a more crunchy flavour. Chicken.
🔪How to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole?
Step One: Place 4 cups of water in a large pot and heat over medium high heat. Once the water boils, add in your rice and remove from the heat. Be sure to cover the rice. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes and stir.
Step Two: While the rice is cooking, dice the chicken. Place a skillet over medium heat. Add in olive oil and your diced chicken.
Step Five: Once the chicken has cooked, add in your seasonings. Such as garlic salt and pepper.
Step Six: In a large bowl or casserole dish, combine the rice, cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, and eggs. Mix everything until combined.
Step Seven: Top with shredded cheddar cheese if using and cook for 20-30 minutes. Cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
Step Eight: Serve the Chicken Broccoli Rice with grated parmesan cheese if desired.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Brown the Chicken First: Use the sauté function to brown the chicken pieces before adding other ingredients. This step enhances the flavor and texture of the chicken, giving it a nice caramelization that adds depth to the casserole.
- Deglaze the Pot: After browning the chicken, pour a little broth or water into the Instant Pot and scrape the bottom with a wooden spoon. This technique, known as deglazing, helps lift any flavorful bits stuck to the bottom and prevents the burn error during pressure cooking.
- Layer Ingredients Correctly: Add the rice over the chicken, then the broccoli on top of the rice. Pour the remaining broth or a creamy soup mixture over everything without stirring. This layering method ensures that the rice cooks evenly in the liquid while the broccoli steams on top without becoming mushy.
- Use the Right Rice: Choose a long-grain white rice for the best texture in casseroles. It holds its shape well during cooking and absorbs flavors beautifully. Adjust the liquid ratio according to the type of rice used, typically about 1:1.25 (rice to liquid).
- Natural Pressure Release: After the cooking cycle, let the Instant Pot release pressure naturally for at least 10 minutes. This allows the rice to finish cooking gently and prevents the dish from becoming too mushy.
- Add Cheese Last: If your casserole recipe calls for cheese, stir it in after the cooking process is complete and the lid is opened. This prevents the cheese from becoming too stringy or scorching during pressure cooking.
💭 FAQs
The main difference between a casserole and a gratin is that gratins are typically covered with cheese or breadcrumbs before being baked, while casseroles are not. This gives gratins a crispy, golden brown topping that is often lacking in casseroles.
Broccoli is a winter vegetable. A winter vegetable is a vegetable that is typically harvested in the winter months. This includes vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.
This recipe uses frozen broccoli florets but you can use a fresh broccoli if it’s in season. Fresh broccoli florets will work just as well as frozen broccoli.
Store Chicken Broccoli Casserole With Rice in an airtight container in the fridge. Seal tightly to prevent odors. Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days for easy meal planning.Freeze the casserole in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Label with date for up to 2-3 months without flavor loss.
Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite side dishes to serve with Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole:
- Garlic Roasted Potatoes: Enjoy tender and crispy roasted potatoes seasoned with garlic, herbs, and olive oil. The savory flavors and hearty texture of the potatoes complement the creamy casserole perfectly.
- Caesar Salad: Serve a classic Caesar salad with crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, and tangy Caesar dressing. The fresh and zesty flavors of the salad provide a refreshing contrast to the rich and comforting casserole.
- Honey Glazed Carrots: Prepare sweet and tender honey-glazed carrots for a colorful and flavorful side dish. The natural sweetness of the carrots pairs well with the savory chicken and broccoli in the casserole.
- Buttered Dinner Rolls: Serve warm and buttery dinner rolls on the side for a comforting and satisfying addition to the meal. The soft and fluffy texture of the rolls is perfect for soaking up the delicious sauce from the casserole.
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Chicken Broccoli Casserole With Rice
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon Chicken Breasts halved and diced
- 4 Cup Cooked Rice
- 2 Can Cream Of Chicken Soup
- 12 oz Frozen Broccoli
- 1 Cup Milk
Instructions
- If you are not freezing this meal, preheat your oven to 350.
- Start by preparing your rice and chicken. Place 4 cups of water in a large pot and heat over medium high heat. Once the water boils, add in your rice and remove from the heat. Be sure to cover the rice. Allow to sit for about 5 minutes and stir.
While the rice is doing its thing, place a skillet over medium heat. Add in olive oil and
your diced chicken.
Once the chicken has cooked, add in your seasonings. I use garlic salt and pepper.- In a large bowl or a casserole dish, all your rice, cooked chicken, cream of chicken
soup, milk and eggs. Mix everything until combined. - TIP: You may want to add extra milk if your mixture is dry.
Top if shredded cheddar cheese if using and cook for 20-30 minutes.- Cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
- My kids love to eat their Chicken Broccoli Rice with “shaky cheese” aka grated
parmesan cheese.
We hope that you and your family enjoy this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe
as much as we do!
Nutrition
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