Description
Hearty Broccoli Rice Cheese and Chicken Casserole brings comfort from Southern kitchens straight to dinner tables. Creamy textures and savory flavors blend effortlessly, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken)
- 1 ¼ cups uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 7.5 ounces (222 milliliters) chicken broth
Dairy and Creamy Components:
- 1½-ounce can of cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons butter for cooking the chicken
- 3 teaspoons melted butter for topping
Seasonings and Toppings:
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
- ¼ cup crushed Ritz crackers for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch (23×33 centimeters) casserole dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Generously season chicken breasts with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, ensuring even coverage.
- Heat of butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then sauté the seasoned chicken until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 6-7 minutes per side. Remove chicken and slice into bite-sized pieces.
- In the same skillet, pour of chicken broth, of long-grain white rice, and of olive oil. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer rice for 7 minutes. Add fresh broccoli florets, then cover and cook for an additional 8 minutes until rice is tender and broccoli is slightly crisp.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken pieces, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, of milk, of sour cream, of shredded cheddar cheese, of garlic powder, and of dried thyme. Mix thoroughly until ingredients are well incorporated.
- Gently fold the rice and broccoli mixture into the creamy chicken blend, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Transfer the combined mixture to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top.
- Crush of Ritz crackers and mix with of melted butter. Distribute the cracker topping uniformly over the casserole.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the top turns golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to allow the dish to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Elevate your weeknight dinner game with this comfort food classic that combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, and crisp broccoli in a creamy, cheesy embrace.
- Ritz cracker topping adds an irresistible crunch that transforms this humble casserole into a crowd-pleasing masterpiece.
- Sautéing chicken first locks in maximum flavor, creating golden-brown edges that promise delicious texture in every single bite.
- Cooking rice and broccoli together streamlines the preparation process, ensuring perfectly cooked grains and vibrant green vegetables.
- Mixing chicken with creamy ingredients and cheese creates a luscious sauce that binds all components into a harmonious, satisfying meal.
- Resting the casserole after baking allows flavors to meld and helps maintain a perfect, sliceable consistency when serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 525 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg