Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

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.

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.

 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

More Casserole Recipes Your Family Will Love

• Chicken and Rice Casserole – Another easy dump & go casserole that uses instant minute rice and cooked chicken chunks. 
• Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole – All the best flavors of chicken cordon bleu but in an easy casserole recipe with pasta added in for heartiness. 
• Taco Salad Casserole – Don’t forget all the taco toppings for this one!
• Creamy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole – A cream cheese chicken pot pie base topped with parmesan dusted biscuits. 
• Ham Broccoli Rice Casserole – Use up leftover ham or sliced deli ham for this casserole. 
• Spaghetti Casserole – So hearty and feeds a crowd!