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This family favorite cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a simple weeknight dinner idea that uses convenient store-bought ingredients and already cooked chicken. A creamy base with chunks of chicken, broccoli, and cheesy broccoli rice packets.

If you want a stove top version of this recipe then try my One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice.

A scoop of casserole being pulled from the pan.

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

This chicken broccoli rice casserole is a family pleasing dinner that everyone loves. So cheesy with chunks of broccoli, chicken, and cheddar broccoli rice. Simply mix everything together in one bowl and dump it into a casserole dish. 

No prep work or cutting needed! It’s an easy weeknight dinner that I always find myself making with leftover cooked chicken or a rotisserie chicken that I grabbed at the store.

Casserole dish with part of the food taken out of it.  

Ingredients Needed

  • Chicken Broth – I use a can of reduced-sodium chicken broth. Regular salted chicken broth can be used if that’s what you prefer. 
  • Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
  • Condensed Cream of Broccoli Soup – If you can’t find this variety then just use two cans of cream of chicken. The cream of broccoli is a great addition so try to find it if possible. It’s fairly common and available in most grocery stores. 
  • Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice Packets – These are the packaged rice packets and it specifically says ‘cheddar broccoli’ on the front of it. No need to cook it beforehand. Just dump the content into the mixing bowl. Knorr is the brand and you will find it by the other rice and packaged rice mixes at the store. 
  • Cooked Chicken – Use a rotisserie chicken, leftover cooked chicken from the fridge or freezer, canned chicken, or slow cooker chicken (2-3 chicken breasts + can of chicken broth cooked on LOW for 6-7 hours).
  • Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasoning
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Shred the cheese from a block (with a cheese grater) for the best flavor, smooth melt, and taste. 
  • Frozen Steamable Broccoli – Microwave this according to package directions before adding the broccoli on top of the casserole. 

Labeled ingredients for this recipe

Step-by-Step Directions For How To Make It

Learn how to make this simple casserole recipe with the easy directions below. Be sure and read to the bottom of the page where there is a detailed recipe card, a printable option, and a pin it button so you can save the recipe for later. 

  • Prep : Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Mixing Bowl : Add the chicken chicken broth and condensed soups into a large mixing bowl. Stir with a whisk until combined well. Add in the rice packets, cooked chicken, dried seasonings, and 1 cup of the shredded cheese and stir until mixed together well. 
  • Casserole Pan : Dump the mixture into the prepared baking dish and smooth out the top evenly. Place the broccoli florets evenly over the top and then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese over top. 
  • Bake : Cook for 25-30 minutes or until the cheese has melted, the edges are golden brown, and the rice is cooked through. This usually takes the full 30 minutes. 

Process photos showing how to make this recipe.

Process photos showing how to make this recipe.

Process photos showing how to make this recipe.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole FAQ’s

  • How To Store Leftovers

    • Keep leftovers in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 4-5 days. 
    • Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave. Even my teenage daughter would heat up the leftovers and eat them after school. I’m usually not a fan of leftovers but these are delicious!
    • If want the leftovers creamier then add just a slight splash of milk before heating them up. 
  • Variation & Substitution Ideas

    • Shredded Cheese : Use any variety if shredded cheese that you want. Typically cheddar cheese goes best with broccoli, but you can also try Monterey Jack cheese, white cheddar cheese, or some Pepper Jack cheese for some spice. 
    • Dried Seasonings : Add some red pepper chili flakes for some spice. Try using fresh garlic instead of garlic powder. You can also add some freshly diced onion instead of the onion powder. My goal was to make this casserole as easy as possible, which is why the dried seasonings are called for. 
  • What Kind of Chicken Do I Use For This Recipe?

    • Canned Chicken – Not as bad as you might think! I prefer using the Costco brand canned chicken. Make sure that you drain it well, flake it, and remove any weird or fatty parts from the can. 
    • Crockpot Chicken – Add 2 to 3 small chicken breast into a slow cooker with a can of chicken broth. Cook on LOW heat for about 6-7 hours. The chicken is super tender and shreds very easily with two forks. 
    • Leftover Chicken – Uses up leftover chicken from another meal, or from when you meal prepped, either from the fridge or frozen. 
    • Rotisserie Chicken – Make it really easy and pick up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. 
    • Buy Cooked Chicken – Most grocery stores have lots of options for already cooked chicken that you can buy. I know Costco sells a big bag of pulled rotisserie chicken that would work well for this recipe. 

Spoonful of casserole with cheese and broccoli.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few of my helpful tips so that you can have success recreating this recipe in your own kitchen ♥

  • Shredded Cheese From a Block : For the best taste & creamy melted texture, shred cheese from a block of cheddar cheese using a cheese grater. A small 8 ounce block of cheese is the exact amount you need for this recipe once it’s shredded. The recipe calls for 2 cups of cheese but I always use more. You can never have too much, right?! According to my kids the answer is no!
  • Cooked Broccoli : The recipe calls for a frozen package of steamable broccoli because it’s the easiest way to get cooked broccoli. Whatever you use, make sure it has been mostly cooked before adding it to the casserole. It won’t have time to cook from frozen in the 30 minute cook time. I have tested this recipe that way and the broccoli chunks were still a bit cold. Cooked through but cold. 
  • Don’t Prepare The Rice Beforehand : I was skeptical too but trust me, the rice will cook in the 30 minute cook time. Simply dump the dry contents from the package (dry rice + seasonings) into the mixing bowl and that’s it. No pre-cooking the rice is needed. 

Cheesy casserole with a spoon inside of it.

A bite of this recipe on a spoon above the pan of the casserole below it.

More Casserole Recipes Your Family Will Love

Cheesy casserole with a spoon inside of it.
Together As Family Logo

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8
This family favorite cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a simple weeknight dinner idea that uses convenient store-bought ingredients and already cooked chicken. A creamy base with chunks of chicken, broccoli, and cheesy broccoli rice packets.

Ingredients
  

  • 2 packets (5.7 oz each) Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice
  • 2 cans (10 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 2½ cups cooked chicken cubed or shredded
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 bag (10.8) steamfresh frozen broccoli florets
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • PREP : You need to first cook the steamfresh frozen broccoli according to package directions (usually around 5 minutes). Place the broccoli in the microwave to cook while you prepare the rest.
    1 bag (10.8) steamfresh frozen broccoli florets
  • Preheat the oven to 350℉. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside for later.
  • In a large mixing bowl add the rice packet contents, condensed cream of chicken soups, cooked chicken, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix well to combine thoroughly.
    2 packets (5.7 oz each) Knorr Cheddar Broccoli Rice, 2 cans (10 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup, 2½ cups cooked chicken, 1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Pour the mixture from the bowl into the prepared baking dish. Top the casserole with the steamed broccoli (cooked from the microwave), and then evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over top of everything.
    2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    Process photos showing how to make this recipe.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges are browned, casserole is bubbly, cheese is melted, and the rice is cooked through.
    Process photos showing how to make this recipe.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    Process photos showing how to make this recipe.

Video

Notes

Knorr Rice Packets : The brand is Knorr and they come in packets and you want the one that is the 'cheddar broccoli' flavor. I have linked to them on Amazon above, but it is a 12 pack, and you can easily find them in the store. I just wanted to share a visual of what it looks like. Do not pre-cook the rice before adding it into the mixing bowl. Dump all the dry contents from the packet straight into the mixing bowl. 
Condensed Creamed Soup : I prefer using one can cream of chicken + one can cream of broccoli soup in this recipe. Don't confuse the cheddar broccoli soup for the condensed cream of broccoli soup. They're different! 
Cheddar Cheese : Use mild cheddar, medium cheddar, or sharp cheddar. It's most important that you shred it yourself from a block of cheese. It makes a big difference in taste and meltability (is that a word, haha). One small block (8 ounces) will yield 2 cups of shredded cheese. 

Did You Make This Recipe?

I'd love to see it! You can share it with me on @togetherasfamilyblog and follow on Pinterest @together-as-family-blog-recipes or Facebook @togetherasfamilyblog for more!

 

 

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. Rachel R. says:

    Does the dish need to be covered while baking?

  2. 5 stars
    This is so yummy!! I had a couple questions if you have time to answer. What is the reccomended serving size for this? Also, would this be considered healthy? It feels unhealthy bc its so good hahaha. Thank you for the recipe and TIA for your help

    1. Together As Family says:

      So glad you like it! As far as serving size, it makes enough for 8 servings. I cut the casserole into 8 square pieces. I would guess each one is about 1 + 1/2 cups of casserole. As far as if it’s healthy, that would be a different answer depending on who you ask. It’s healthier than fast food but it’s probably not like health food (if that makes sense). But having one serving for family dinner I think is just fine, moderation is what I say. You can always try to use reduced-fat cheese and/or healthy request cream of chicken soup. Hopefully that helps a little.

  3. Made this for dinner tonight (with a few tweaks) I added cooked bacon and onions. Cut the recipe in half and it was delicious! Definitely a keeper! Will be adding it to my weekly list of easy dinners. Thank you for sharing this!

    1. Together as Family says:

      Yay! I always love hearing when a recipe makes it into regular rotation.

  4. Can I use the packets of the chicken, flavored broccoli, rice, and pasta blend with broccoli and a chicken flavored sauce instead of the one Requested let me know please

    1. Together as Family says:

      I wouldn’t suggest it because the added flavors in the packet would throw off the taste of the dish. But if you try it, let me know how it turns out.