Description
Hearty broccoli rice cheese and chicken casserole combines comforting flavors for a satisfying family meal. Creamy textures and savory ingredients blend seamlessly, promising you a delightful dinner experience that feels like a warm kitchen hug.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken)
- 1 ¼ cups (315 ml) uncooked long-grain white rice
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 7.5 oz (222 ml) chicken broth
- 10.5 oz can of cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup milk
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tbsps butter for cooking the chicken
- 3 tsps melted butter for topping
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
- 2 tbsps olive oil for sautéing
- ¼ cup crushed Ritz crackers for topping
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Chicken Preparation: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sauté in butter over medium heat until golden brown and fully cooked, then slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Rice and Broccoli Cooking: In the same skillet, combine chicken broth, rice, and olive oil. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer. Add broccoli florets, cover, and cook until rice is tender and broccoli is crisp.
- Creamy Mixture: In a large bowl, blend cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, and dried thyme until thoroughly combined.
- Casserole Assembly: Gently incorporate rice and broccoli into the creamy chicken mixture. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly and topping with remaining cheddar cheese.
- Cracker Topping: Crush Ritz crackers and mix with melted butter. Sprinkle the cracker mixture uniformly over the casserole.
- Baking Process: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until the top turns golden and crispy.
- Serving: Allow casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Quick Chicken Prep: Season chicken generously before cooking to enhance flavor and ensure even taste distribution.
- Rice and Broccoli Timing: Cook rice and broccoli together to save time and maintain optimal texture, preventing overcooking.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Use freshly shredded cheese for smoother melting and better overall casserole consistency.
- Cracker Topping Trick: Crush Ritz crackers just before adding to maintain crispness and prevent soggy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg