Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole is creamy, comforting goodness. My chicken and broccoli rice casserole is an easy dinner recipe that doesn’t take much preparation. I love to make it for a busy weeknight meal.

Casseroles make my hectic nights so much easier. Here are two more of my favorites: cheesy meatball casserole and my hamburger and potato casserole.

Why this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe is a Keeper

This Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole is a definite keeper for its comforting, customizable, and family-friendly qualities:

• Ultimate Comfort Food: It’s a warm, hearty, and satisfying dish that evokes feelings of home-cooked goodness.
• Easy to Customize: You can easily adapt the recipe to your preferences by adding different vegetables, meats, cheeses, and sauces.
• Crowd-Pleasing Appeal: Easy chicken broccoli rice casserole is a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults, making it perfect for family dinners, potlucks, and gatherings.
• Versatile Meal: Chicken and rice casserole with broccoli and cheese can be served as a main course or a side dish.
• Efficient Use of Leftovers: It’s a great way to use up leftover chicken or rice.
• Make-Ahead Convenience: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and bake it when you’re ready.
• Simple and Satisfying: It’s a relatively simple recipe that delivers big flavor and satisfaction.
• It is a complete meal: This dish provides a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.
• It is a comforting meal: It is a dish that is very comforting, and enjoyable.

How Do I Prevent the Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole from Drying Out?

Baking the cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole covered with foil helps to keep the moisture in, rather than drying it out. Removing the foil towards the end of baking helps to crispen the top.

Ingredient Notes and Variation Suggestions for Easy Chicken Broccoli

All of the required ingredients are easy to find at the store, but some of the ingredients may be around the kitchen already. If I don’t have them, I use different ingredients to substitute for the regular rice, etc.

Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

• Rice: To make this easy chicken broccoli casserole, you will need uncooked rice. No need to cook the rice because we need rice to absorb the water.
  • Rice Variations: You can use almost any type of rice. Try wild rice, or quinoa can be used in place of white or brown rice. Avoid instant rice or minute rice as they can get soggy.
• Chicken: In this recipe we’re using boneless, skinless chicken breasts but you could also use boneless chicken thighs or leftover rotisserie chicken.
  • Meat Variations: Use turkey, ham, or sausage instead of chicken.
• Broccoli: I used frozen broccoli but using fresh broccoli will work too.
  • Vegetable Variations: Try cauliflower instead of broccoli. Add other vegetables like carrots, peas, or corn.
• Sauce Variations: Use a cream of mushroom soup, cream of broccoli soup, cream of chicken soup, or a homemade white sauce.
• Cheese Variations: Experiment with different cheeses, such as Gouda, Gruyere or Parmesan.
• Spice Variations: Add dried herbs, or spices like paprika, garlic powder, or onion powder to the sauce, or to the layers of the casserole.
• Dairy Substitutions: Heavy cream can be substituted with milk, or half and half.

How to Make Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Make this recipe in 3 easy steps. This chicken broccoli rice and cheese casserole is so good.

Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.

1. Preheat Oven and Prep Dish: Preheat the oven to 375℉, and grease a 9×13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Add Rice and add the Cheese: Add the rice, add the chicken broth, cheddar cheese soup, cream of chicken soup, add the broccoli and some of the All Purpose Seasoning to the baking dish.
3. Assemble Casserole: Arrange chicken on top of the rice and place pats of butter evenly on top. In a small bowl, combine the rest of the All Purpose Seasoning with paprika and season chicken.

4. Bake: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 1 hour. Remove foil and bake until chicken is cooked through.

Prep Ahead Suggestions for Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice

I like to prepare ingredients or steps ahead of time so that I don’t have to do everything all at once when I’m making chicken and rice casseroles with broccoli.

• Cook the Chicken: Cook and shred or dice the chicken ahead of time for broccoli cheese and rice casserole with chicken.
• Cook the Rice: Cook the rice according to package directions and store it in the refrigerator.
• Steam the Broccoli: Steam or lightly cook the broccoli florets. You can also use frozen broccoli.
• Prepare the Sauce: If making a homemade cheese sauce, you can prepare it a day in advance.
• Grate the Cheese: Grate any cheese you’ll be using and store it in an airtight container.
• Assemble the Casserole: You can assemble the entire casserole (except for the topping, if using) and refrigerate it. Add about 15-20 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.

Common Questions to Make this Easy Chicken and Rice Recipe