Chicken Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole (Printable Version)
A comforting bake loaded with chicken, broccoli, and rice in a rich cheese sauce.
# 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 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 kosher salt
11 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon paprika
→ Topping
13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-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 translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, broccoli florets, cooked rice, sautéed onion and garlic, 1½ cups cheddar cheese, sour cream, milk, condensed cream of chicken soup, salt, pepper, and paprika. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
04 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer with a spatula.
05 - Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
06 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter. Mix until evenly coated.
07 - Sprinkle the buttered breadcrumbs evenly over the cheese layer. Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms leftovers into something everyone actually gets excited about eating
- The creamy cheesy sauce brings everything together without much effort
02 -
- Do not skip the resting time or it will be too loose when you scoop servings
- Frozen broccoli must be thawed and drained very well or the casserole becomes watery
03 -
- Add a pinch of cayenne or Dijon mustard to the sauce mixture for extra depth
- Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded for better melting