Description
Easy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a comforting oven baked dish made with tender chicken breast, fluffy brown rice, fresh broccoli, and a creamy cheddar cheese sauce. This recipe is simple to prepare, rich in flavor, and perfect for family dinners or meal prep. It bakes into a warm, satisfying casserole with a golden bubbly top and reheats beautifully for leftovers.
Ingredients
One pound chicken breasts cut into bite sized cubes
Two cups cooked brown rice
Six cups fresh broccoli florets cut small
Two tablespoons olive oil divided
One small onion diced
Two tablespoons gluten free flour
Two cups milk
One quarter teaspoon garlic powder
One quarter teaspoon onion powder
One half teaspoon McCormick Ground Mustard or Simply Organic Mustard Powder
One half teaspoon smoked paprika
One half teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
One quarter teaspoon ground pepper
Two cups shredded Cabot Sharp Cheddar or Tillamook Medium Cheddar divided
Two tablespoons freshly chopped curly parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper then drizzle with olive oil and mix well
3. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in a casserole dish
4. Bake the chicken until lightly cooked on the outside
5. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté the diced onion until translucent
6. Whisk in the flour and cook briefly until smooth
7. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking continuously
8. Add garlic powder onion powder mustard powder smoked paprika salt and pepper
9. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy
10. Remove from heat and stir in most of the shredded cheddar until melted
11. Remove the casserole dish from the oven and add cooked rice and broccoli
12. Pour the cheese sauce over the mixture and gently toss to coat evenly
13. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top
14. Bake until the broccoli is tender and the top is golden and bubbly
15. Remove from the oven garnish with parsley and serve warm
Notes
Cook the brown rice ahead of time so it is ready for assembling the casserole
Cut broccoli florets into similar sizes for even cooking
Sweet or yellow onion both work well in this recipe
Regular all purpose flour can be used if gluten free flour is not needed
Whole milk creates a richer sauce but low fat or plant based milk also works
Cheddar cheese can be substituted with mozzarella or Colby if desired
Allow the casserole to rest briefly after baking for easier serving
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days in an airtight container
The casserole can be frozen for up to three months and reheated as needed
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American