Chicken Broccoli Rice Cheese Casserole (Printable View)

Comforting baked dish with chicken, broccoli, rice, and creamy 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 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 salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon paprika

→ Topping

13 - ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion for 3–4 minutes until softened. 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 distributed.
04 - Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly into a smooth layer.
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 the crumbs are 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 throughout and the topping is golden brown.
08 - Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to allow it to set for easier scooping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in one bowl without any fancy techniques or stress
  • The creamy sauce stretches leftovers into something everyone actually wants to eat
  • You can prep it ahead and bake whenever someone walks through the door hungry
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting period or the casserole will be too loose to serve neatly
  • The topping burns faster than you think so check at 30 minutes if your oven runs hot
03 -
  • Squeeze thawed frozen broccoli in a clean towel or it will make your casserole watery
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded bags for way better melting

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