Description
This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is an easy make ahead meal that you can assemble and bake another day! Your family will love the buttery, crunchy Ritz topping!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups white long grain rice, uncooked
- 2–3 cups fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
- 10.5 oz condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, separated
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Step: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Step: Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat until melted. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Step: Add the chicken broth, olive oil, and rice to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover tightly and cook for 6 minutes.
- Step: Add the broccoli and replace the cover. Cook for 9 more minutes, or until no liquid remains in the pot and the rice is cooked through.
- Step: Keep it covered and remove from heat. Let the rice stand for 10 minutes without stirring.
- Step: Add the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, thyme, garlic powder, and half of the cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
- Step: Transfer to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
- Step: Combine the melted butter and crushed crackers. Sprinkle over the casserole and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes.
Notes
This casserole can be refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months. For make-ahead options, let the dish sit out for 30 minutes before baking and add 15 minutes to the baking time. Always add the cracker topping during the final 10 minutes of baking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 511 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1174 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: chicken broccoli rice casserole, cheesy chicken bake, comfort food, freezer meals