With just 10 minutes to prep and 1 dish to clean, this quick Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting, easy dinner using just 8 simple pantry ingredients. It's perfect for a busy weeknight all year round.
At over 22 million views and countless 5 star reviews, this cozy weeknight casserole has been one of my most popular recipes. This perfect weeknight casserole is so easy to make, all of the ingredients are mixed together in one baking dish--it's truly easy dinner perfection!
Plus it uses just 8 staple ingredients, many of which you probably have in your pantry. This broccoli cheese and rice casserole with chicken is a total meal prep dream. It can also be made in advance and frozen for a quick weeknight meal solution too.
After the success of my Queso Chicken and Rice, I was excited to try this new version by switching up just a few of the ingredients. Broccoli + cheese and chicken + rice = Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole was born! It's simple, quick-to-make, and pure comfort food!
If you love an easy casserole recipe, we have so many for you to try! Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole, Tuna Noodle Casserole, and Tater Tot Taco Casserole are all fan favorites too!
Table of Contents
Why You'll Like This Recipe
- Minimal Prep Easy Recipe: Other than the dish you season your chicken on, this whole cheesy casserole can be mixed up in the dish you bake it in!
- Comfort Food Win: An easy casserole recipe is always a great go-to when you're craving comfort food. This blend of flavorful rice, chicken, broccoli, and cheese will hit the spot!
- Simple Ingredients: The convenience of pre-seasoned rice, canned condensed cream of chicken soup, and broth makes this a quick to assemble meal. You can also use homemade substitutions as noted under "Tips and Substitutions."
Made this for dinner. My kids ate it up! Protein and vegetables all in one dish...yes please! - Janelle
I can honestly attest to the fact that everything I make from Laura is hands down a 10/10! This Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole is no exception! Easy to fix and a crowd pleaser! I 100% trust your recipes!! -Janet
Ingredients
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice Sides: A pre-seasoned cheesy rice blend that serves as the primary carbohydrate and a filling component.
- Chicken Broth: Adds moisture to the casserole, preventing it from being too dry. The broth also infuses additional flavor.
- Cream of Chicken: Acts as a binding and flavorful element. The condensed soup not only adds creaminess but also helps bring all the ingredients together.
- Frozen Chopped Broccoli: Adds a vibrant green color, a fresh and slightly crisp texture, and a nutritious component to the casserole.
- Cheddar Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese adds a rich and cheesy flavor to the casserole. Cheddar cheese also contributes to the creaminess of the dish when melted. Mild, medium or sharp cheddar cheese as well as Colby or Colby Jack work great!
- Chicken: Provides a protein-rich element to the casserole, making it more hearty and delicious!
- Garlic Powder: Provides depth and savory notes to the casserole.
Tools You’ll Need
How to Make Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole
- The beauty of this recipe is that you can mix everything directly in the baking dish! Combine both rice packets, broth, cream of chicken, water, some cheese, and broccoli in your pan.
- MAKE SURE your chicken is not thicker than ½-inch. Thicker than this can yield undercooked meat at the end of the bake time. Filet or cut the thighs or breasts into cubes if necessary. Season the meat on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Nestle the seasoned protein into the rice in one even layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly on top.
- TIGHTLY cover the dish with aluminum foil. This is important so that the steam doesn’t escape. Bake the casserole at 350°F for 1 hour, then remove the foil and cook an additional 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the top is slightly browned.
What Goes With Chicken Broccoli Cheese and Rice Casserole
Adding a colorful side dish is ideal for this delicious casserole. The wholesome, rich flavors of the rice and cheese go perfectly with fresh vegetables. Some yummy sides to serve it with are:
Tips and Substitutions
- Lock in the Steam: It is important that the pan is SECURELY covered with the foil. The steam must be captured in order for the rice to cook properly.
- Par-Cooked the Chicken: Searing the meat first 1-2 minutes per side in oil in a skillet over high heat is optional. The bake time should be about the same or 5-10 minutes less.
- Pre-Cooked Chicken: You can also make this using cooked leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. Simply use 2 ½-3 cups of protein, increase the water from ½ cup to 1 cup (or broth), either microwave the frozen broccoli 5 minutes or substitute with fresh broccoli, and adjust the bake time to 30-35 minutes. The rice will still be tender with this cooking method.
- Chicken Cut Success: Swap thighs for chicken breasts or tenders if you prefer white meat. The chicken shouldn't be thicker than ½-inch. If the pieces are too big, it will not be cooked through in the specified time. If your meat needs additional cook time, simply recover and bake an additional 5-15 minutes or until and internal temperature of 165ºF is met.
- Don’t Prepare The Rice Beforehand : Whichever chicken cut you choose or whether it's with the pre-cooked, pre-seared, or raw cooking method chosen, the rice will cook in a minimum cook time of 30 minutes.
- Homemade Cream of Chicken: You can substitute cream of chicken Campbell's soup with this homemade version:
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in ⅓ cup milk and ⅓ cup chicken broth until well combined. Season with ¼ teaspoon onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and creamy.
- Knorr Rice Substitute: You can substitute rice packets with 1 ¼ cups rinsed long-grain white rice or 1 cup brown rice. You might want to add seasonings such as salt, garlic and/or onion powder. The packets also boost the cheesy flavor, so consider adding more cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese.
Storing Cheesy Rice Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Refrigeration: Allow the casserole to cool to room temperature before storing. Transfer to an air tight storage container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Beyond this time, the quality may start to decline.
Freezing: Ensure that the casserole is completely cooled before freezing. Use a freezer-safe, airtight container or heavy-duty aluminum foil to wrap the casserole. The casserole can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: If the casserole is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. This ensures more even reheating. Reheat the casserole in a preheated oven (covered with foil to prevent drying) at 350°F for 20-30 minutes or in the microwave. Ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be substituted with cream of mushroom soup, cream of broccoli, cheddar cheese, and broccoli cheddar soup. You can also make it homemade as well.
Of course! Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in ⅓ cup milk and ⅓ cup chicken broth until well combined. Season with ¼ teaspoon onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and creamy.
Certainly! Fresh chopped broccoli can be substituted for frozen broccoli.
Dark or white meat both work in this dish. If chicken tenderloins are used, they will likely only need a total cook time of 50 minutes covered plus 10 minutes uncovered. Breasts or thighs will need the 1 hour covered plus 10-15 minutes uncovered. If your chicken breast or thigh is thicker than ½ inch, flatten or cut into cubes. The USDA-safe internal temperature for chicken is 165°F.
If you want to sear the seasoned chicken first, go ahead! Searing adds some texture and flavor to the chicken. Just adjust the covered oven cook time to 35-45 minutes.
You can prepare this dish in advance and cover/refrigerate it. Place on the counter 30 minutes prior to baking. At the end of cook time, check the internal temperature of the chicken for doneness.
More Casserole Recipes Like This
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice
- Queso Chicken and Rice
- Southwest Queso Chicken and Rice
- French Onion Chicken and Rice
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 5.7 ounce packages Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice Sides
- 14.5 ounces chicken broth regular or low-sodium
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup regular or low-sodium
- ½ cup water
- 10 ounce box frozen chopped broccoli thawed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 2 ½-3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts ½-inch thick pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- To a 13”x9” baking dish, whisk together both Knorr rice packets, broth, soup, water, broccoli and ½ cup of the cheese.
- Season chicken on both sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place the chicken into the rice mixture.
- Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Cover TIGHTLY with foil and bake 1 hour. Remove the foil, and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until slightly brown and bubbling at the edges.
Notes
-
- Lock in the Steam: It is important that the pan is SECURELY covered with the foil. The steam must be captured in order for the rice to cook properly.
-
- Par-Cooked the Chicken: Searing the meat first 1-2 minutes per side in oil in a skillet over high heat is optional. The bake time should be about the same or 5-10 minutes less.
-
- Pre-Cooked Chicken: You can also make this using cooked leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. Simply use 2 ½-3 cups of protein, increase the water from ½ cup to 1 cup (or broth), either microwave the frozen broccoli 5 minutes or substitute with fresh broccoli, and adjust the bake time to 30-35 minutes. The rice will still be tender with this cooking method.
-
- Chicken Cut Success: Swap thighs for chicken breasts or tenders if you prefer white meat. The chicken shouldn't be thicker than ½-inch. If the pieces are too big, it will not be cooked through in the specified time. If your meat needs additional cook time, simply recover and bake an additional 5-15 minutes or until and internal temperature of 165ºF is met.
-
- Don’t Prepare The Rice Beforehand : Whichever chicken cut you choose or whether it's with the pre-cooked, pre-seared, or raw cooking method chosen, the rice will cook in a minimum cook time of 30 minutes.
-
- Homemade Cream of Chicken: You can substitute cream of chicken Campbell's soup with this homemade version:
-
- Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in ⅓ cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in ⅓ cup milk and ⅓ cup chicken broth until well combined. Season with ¼ teaspoon onion powder and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes or until thickened and creamy.
-
- Homemade Cream of Chicken: You can substitute cream of chicken Campbell's soup with this homemade version:
-
- Knorr Rice Substitute: You can substitute rice packets with 1 ¼ cups rinsed long-grain white rice or 1 cup brown rice. You might want to add seasonings such as salt, garlic and/or onion powder. The packets also boost the cheesy flavor, so consider adding more cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese.
Tara Henderson
I started looking for a recipe for dinner and now my mouth is watering. I can't wait to eat. it's in the oven now and smells glorious
Laura Ashley
YAY!! I’m so happy you made it too! THANK YOU!
Beth Sine
This easy recipe has become one of my family’s favorites. It comes out perfect every single time I make it! Sometimes I change out the rice mix flavor and it still tastes great. 🙂
Laura Ashley
That is wonderful!! I’m so happy it’s been a hit!
Marisa
Hi! My only problem I’m having is my chicken thighs aren’t cooking all the way.. it almost took an extra hour I wonder if I should have flattened them before adding them instead of putting them while still all together. But can’t wait to try it as it’s still in the oven 😂
Laura Ashley
Aww! I’m so happy you’re making it. Yes, they have to be less than 1/2” thick to cook through in the time noted. I hope you liked it😁
Lisette Dahlin
What can be substituted for the cream of chicken soup?
Laura Ashley
You could use cream of mushroom, cream of celery or cheddar soup.
Jessica Smith
If I’m going to leave out the chicken and only do the rice how long should it cook?
Laura Ashley
I haven’t tried it, but probably 30-45 is my guess. You could recover and bake more if needed.😁
Melissa
can I use Rotisserie chicken and for how long do I bake in the oven?
Laura Ashley
I haven't tried that, but it might work. Since the chicken just needs reheated, it will need less time. You might want to check the rice though to ensure doneness.
Kim
I tried this with rotisserie chicken. Baked just the rice and broccoli for 40 mins. Then I added on top the shredded rotisserie chicken, top with cheese and baked uncovered an additional 10 mins. Delicious!!
Laura Ashley
That is AWESOME, Kim! Thank you for sharing how you did that with the rotisserie too. I'm definitely going to try that now!
Krystal
What if my chicken is already cooked?
Laura Ashley
You could just prepare the ingredients in the oven without it, then add the chicken later. 🙂 The rice mixture will need less cook time.
Linda
My husband and I love this recipe. I am making freezer meals for an upcoming surgery and wondered if I could make this and freeze it before baking it? Then thaw in refrigerator overnight and cook the next day.
Laura Ashley
Yes! I’ve need to add freezer options on the post. I’ve frozen it, thawed overnight and added the cheese on top right before baking. It turns out great. I’m so happy y’all like it too!
MathLady
I'm going to make this, but was wondering if I could substitute frozen mixed vegetables for the broccoli. I'd still use everything else you said, but didn't want it to be that much broccoli. My husband doesn't like broccoli very much.
Laura Ashley
Yes! That would work great! I hope y'all love it!
Melissa
This came out so good. My family loved it. I didn’t use chicken broth though. I just used water. Not missing any flavor. Delicious! Thank you for sharing.
Laura Ashley
That is wonderful, Melissa!! Thank you SO much!! I’m so happy to hear you and your family liked it too!
Debi
This casserole made my family happy. It was a great way to dress up those packets of rice mix. Thanks for the recipe.
Laura Ashley
Aww!! This makes my heart so happy to hear! Thank you SO much!! So happy they liked it!
Kathleen
Thanks for the tip on the foil, the rice was baked perfectly, this was so good, my family asked me to make it again!
Laura Ashley
PERFECT! I'm so happy you liked the tip and that your family already wants it again! THANK YOU!
mandy
Such a wholesome meal. Had plenty of leftovers too which is always a win.
Laura Ashley
That's wonderful!! I'm so happy you liked it!
Janelle
So yummy and cheesy! A big hit at our friendsgiving!
Laura Ashley
Aww!! I'm so happy it was a big hit! THANK YOU!
Michael Saffer
I used canned chicken in mine and it was great thanks for the recipe
Laura Ashley
You're very welcome and thank you so much! I'm so happy it was a hit!
Alvita
How can I make the casserole without the chicken? Would the cooking time still be the same?
Laura Ashley
I would say it will likely be cooked within 30-35 minutes without the chicken.
Lois
Can you do this in a crockpot?
Laura Ashley
I haven't adapted it to a crockpot version yet, so I can't say the exact cook time or recipe adaptations for it.
Amy Nash
This was easy and delicious! A total hit and one we are going to have to make again soon! I might try with leftover rotisserie chicken next time so I appreciate the notes about how to adjust for that!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so much!! I'm so happy to hear it was such a hit with your family. The rotisserie makes it such a quick option too. I'm so happy the notes were helpful!
Debi
Great casserole. I made it vegetarian with veggie broth, cream of mushroom soup, and left the chicken out. So good!
Laura Ashley
Oh that is just wonderful! Thank you SO much!!!
Ellen
Pure comfort food. I keep the ingredients on hand so I can make this on a dreary winter day.
Laura Ashley
Thank you SO SO much!! I'm so happy you liked it!