Chicken Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken and broccoli florets nestled with rice in a velvety cheddar sauce, topped with buttery golden breadcrumbs.
# 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 whole milk
→ Vegetables
05 - 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
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 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon paprika
→ Topping
13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of oil and sauté the chopped onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked chicken, broccoli florets, cooked rice, sautéed onion and garlic, 1½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, milk, condensed cream of chicken soup, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
04 - Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared 9x13-inch baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
05 - Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
06 - In a small bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs with the melted butter. Mix until the breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
07 - Sprinkle the buttered panko breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until the casserole is hot and bubbly around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
08 - Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one dish so cleanup is practically nonexistent
- The combination of textures creates that perfect cozy comfort food everyone craves
02 -
- Forgetting to thaw and drain frozen broccoli will make your casserole watery
- Letting the casserole rest before cutting is the difference between neat servings and a messy scoop
03 -
- Adding a pinch of cayenne or Dijon mustard wakes up the flavors
- Use glutenfree soup and breadcrumbs to make this completely glutenfree