Amazing 1-Pan Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

Hi, I’m Anna! 👩‍🍳 Cooking is my passion, and here on Mom’s Kitchen I share simple, delicious recipes that bring joy and warmth to your table. Whether you love spending time in the kitchen or you’re just looking for easy ideas for everyday meals, I’m so happy to inspire you with my recipes. Thank you for being part of this flavorful journey! 💛 Are you tired of the dinner dilemma every single night? I get it! That’s why this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole is my absolute go-to when I need something hearty, cheesy, and ready in under an hour. It’s the ultimate easy weeknight dinner solution that tastes like you spent all afternoon stirring!

Why This Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole Belongs on Your Table

There are recipes that are just good, and then there are recipes that become legendary in your rotation. This one falls into the second category! I’ve made tweaks over the years, but the core of this creamy, cheesy bake stays exactly the same because it’s just perfect. When you need a dinner that pleases everyone from picky eaters to seasoned foodies, look no further. Trust me, you’re going to want to bookmark this one immediately!

• It’s a true one-pan wonder! Everything cooks together, meaning less scrubbing later.
• The texture is unreal—soft rice, tender chicken, perfectly cooked broccoli, all suspended in this luxurious sauce.
• It freezes beautifully, so you can double the batch and skip cooking another night!
• This Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole is the definition of Southern comfort food served up fast.

Quick Prep for Busy Evenings

We’re talking 15 minutes of active prep time! You sauté the onions, simmer the rice and broccoli right in the saucepan, and then everything gets dumped into the baking dish. It’s so straightforward, I often make this right after I get home from work. No fancy techniques required, just simple stirring and assembly!

Comfort Food Made Simple

If your soul craves something cheesy and rich after a long day, this recipe delivers. The combination of cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and two and a half cups of sharp cheddar cheese creates a sauce that clings perfectly to every grain of rice and every piece of chicken. It’s warm, it’s decadent, and that crunchy Ritz topping? Oh my gosh, it’s the best part!

Gathering What You Need for Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

Okay, gathering your ingredients is half the battle won when it comes to making dinner easy! For this amazing Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole, you’ll notice we cook the rice right in the sauce base, which is a huge time-saver. Make sure you have everything measured out before you start heating the pan. Trust me, once you hit the stovetop, things move fast, and you don’t want to be scrambling for the sour cream!

Precise Ingredient List for Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

I’m really strict about the measurements here because we are building that creamy texture layer by layer. Don’t try to guess on the rice or the cheese amounts; they are crucial for the final structure of this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole. Also, please use standard cream of chicken soup—no light versions here if you want that classic rich flavor!

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 ¼ cup white long grain rice, uncooked
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced (about 1-inch pieces)
• 10.75 oz cream of chicken soup
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup Ritz Crackers, crushed into crumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Essential Equipment for Baking

You don’t need a ton of specialized gear, which is another reason I love this recipe! Just your standard kitchen setup will do the trick. You’ll definitely want a good lid for your saucepan to help cook that rice properly. And of course, you need a sturdy baking dish to hold all that cheesy goodness.

• Large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid
• 9 x 13-inch casserole dish (or similar size)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Small bowl for mixing the topping
• Whisk or sturdy spoon

Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

Alright, let’s get cooking! This is where the magic happens, turning simple pantry staples into that incredible, comforting Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole. Don’t rush the simmering part—that’s how we get perfectly cooked rice without needing to boil it separately. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be spooning out cheesy goodness in no time!

Cooking the Rice Base

First things first, get your oven going! Preheat it to 350°F (175°C) and make sure that 9×13 baking dish is greased up well. We don’t want anything sticking later! Grab your large saucepan and melt the two tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Toss in your finely diced onion and let them soften up—about 5 minutes is perfect. They should look translucent, not brown.

Now, dump in the chicken broth, the olive oil, and the uncooked white rice. Bring that mixture up to a boil, then immediately drop the heat down low so it’s just a gentle simmer. Cover it and let it cook for exactly 8 minutes. After those 8 minutes, add your broccoli florets right on top, cover it again, and simmer for 7 more minutes. Do not stir! Stirring releases starch and we want distinct rice grains here. If the rice still seems a little firm after that time, just cover it and let it sit off the heat for another 3 to 5 minutes until it’s tender.

This next step is essential for texture: remove the saucepan from the heat entirely, keep the lid on, and just let it sit there, covered, for a full 10 minutes. This resting period lets the rice absorb all those flavorful liquids properly. If you skip this, your casserole might end up soupy later—and we want creamy, not soupy!

Assembling the Creamy Core

Once that rice has rested, it’s time to build the creamy core of our Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole. Take the lid off and stir in your diced, cooked chicken, the can of cream of chicken soup, the sour cream, and the milk. Mix it gently until everything is swimming together nicely. Now, grab half of your shredded cheddar cheese—that’s 1 ¼ cups—and stir that in until it’s completely melted and gooey. Give it a taste test and add salt and pepper as needed. Remember, the broth and soup have some salt, so taste first!

Spread this gorgeous, thick mixture evenly into your prepared casserole dish. Don’t skimp on spreading it out to the edges! Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese right over the top. Cover the dish with foil and pop it into that preheated 350°F oven for 15 minutes. This initial bake just melts that top layer of cheese perfectly.

Achieving the Golden Topping

While that’s baking, quickly prepare the best part! In a small bowl, mix your crushed Ritz crackers with the 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Just toss them around until they look like buttery sand. When the 15 minutes are up, pull the casserole out (careful, it’s hot!) and take the foil off. Sprinkle that buttery cracker mixture evenly over the melted cheese layer.

Return the casserole to the oven, but this time, leave it uncovered. Bake for another 10 minutes. You are watching for that topping to turn a beautiful, deep golden brown. That’s your cue! Pull it out and let the whole thing sit on the counter for 5 minutes before you slice into it. This short rest helps the casserole set up so it doesn’t just run everywhere when you serve it.

Tips for Success with Your Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

I’ve made this so many times I could do it in my sleep, but there are a couple of little tricks that guarantee you get that perfect, creamy texture every single time. The most important thing is your rice! Do not skip the 10-minute resting period after simmering. That steam is what finishes cooking the rice perfectly and absorbs excess moisture. If you skip that rest, your Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole will be too liquidy, guaranteed.

Also, remember that the chicken needs to be fully cooked before it goes in. Since we aren’t baking it for an hour, we can’t rely on the oven to cook raw meat. I usually use leftover rotisserie chicken or boil a couple of breasts ahead of time. When you stir the soup and sour cream in, make sure you mix until just combined. Overmixing after the cheese goes in can sometimes make the sauce a little weird, so be gentle!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

I know everyone’s pantry looks a little different, so let’s talk swaps! For the broccoli, if you’re in a pinch, frozen broccoli works just fine. Just toss it in right along with the frozen florets in step 4—no need to thaw it first. If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, vegetable broth is a great swap, though it will change the flavor profile slightly. Since this is comfort food, I usually stick to cream of chicken soup, but if you need to avoid pork products, look for a turkey or mushroom-based condensed soup instead.

If you’re out of sour cream, plain Greek yogurt works beautifully and adds a nice tang to this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole. And for the topping? If Ritz crackers aren’t your favorite, crushed butter crackers or even panko breadcrumbs mixed with butter will give you that essential crunch we need!

Frequently Asked Questions About Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

It seems like everyone has a few questions once they get ready to try this recipe for the first time! It’s totally normal—we want this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole to turn out perfectly cheesy and creamy on the first try. Here are the questions I get asked most often about making this easy casserole.

Can I make this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole ahead of time?

Absolutely! This is a lifesaver for busy weeks. You can assemble the entire casserole—steps 1 through 7—in your greased dish, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to take the chill off, then cover it with foil and bake for about 25 minutes until hot, before adding the cracker topping and baking uncovered for the final 10 minutes. It just adds a little time to the covered bake!

What is the best way to cook the chicken for this recipe?

Since this is such an easy casserole, we rely on already cooked chicken. The safest and easiest way is to bake or poach plain chicken breasts until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Once cooked, let them cool slightly and dice them into about 1-inch pieces. If you’re using rotisserie chicken, just make sure you pull off enough meat to equal 2 cups. Using pre-cooked chicken prevents undercooking, which is so important for food safety!

Storing and Reheating Your Leftover Casserole

The best part about making a big, comforting dish like this Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole is having leftovers for lunch the next day! It keeps so well, and honestly, sometimes I think the flavors meld even better overnight. You want to make sure you store it properly to keep that creamy texture intact.

Once the casserole has cooled down slightly after dinner, cover the dish tightly with foil or transfer the leftovers into an airtight container. Don’t let it sit out at room temperature for more than two hours for safety reasons. Here’s a quick guide for storage:

Storage Method	Duration
Refrigerator	3 to 4 days
Freezer (Airtight Container)	Up to 3 months

When you’re ready for a reheat, a quick trip to the microwave works wonders—just cover it loosely with a paper towel to prevent splattering. For the best texture, especially for the cracker topping, I prefer reheating individual portions in a small oven-safe dish at 350°F until heated through. It brings back that cheesy goodness beautifully!

Share Your Experience with This Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

I truly hope this recipe brings that warm, cozy feeling to your dinner table just like it does mine! If you whip up this amazing Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole, please let me know how it went in the comments below. Did your family love the crunchy Ritz topping? I love seeing your creations, so tag me on social media! Happy cooking, everyone! Contact me if you have any questions!

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