Chicken Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole (Printable)
Hearty chicken and broccoli baked with rice in a rich, cheesy sauce topped with golden buttery crumbs.
# What You'll Need:
→ Protein & Dairy
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
03 - 1 cup sour cream
04 - 1 cup milk
→ Vegetables
05 - 3 cups fresh broccoli florets or frozen, thawed and drained
06 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Grains
08 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
→ Sauces & Seasonings
09 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
→ Topping
13 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, broccoli florets, cooked rice, sautéed onion and garlic, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, sour cream, milk, condensed soup, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
04 - Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the surface.
05 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter. Mix until breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
06 - Sprinkle buttered panko breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer.
07 - Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until casserole is hot and bubbly around edges and topping is golden brown.
08 - Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to set and make serving easier.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- It turns leftover chicken and random fridge staples into something people actually request at potlucks
- The creamy cheesy sauce somehow makes broccoli taste like a treat instead of a chore
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if they even last that long
02 -
- Do not skip the resting period or the casserole will be too loose to serve neatly
- Frozen broccoli must be thawed and drained very well or the casserole will become watery
- The topping burns quickly so keep an eye on it during the last 10 minutes of baking
03 -
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded makes the sauce melt more smoothly
- Add a splash of hot sauce to the mixture if your family likes a little kick