Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake (Print-Friendly Version)
Perfect for cozy dinners, this chicken and broccoli dish combines tender poultry, fresh broccoli, and creamy cheddar. Featuring long grain rice and Italian seasoning, it’s a savory comfort meal you'll want this later.
# Ingredients You’ll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
2 tablespoons butter
02 -
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced (or 2 cups diced rotisserie chicken)
03 -
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
04 -
Salt, to taste
05 -
Pepper, to taste
06 -
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
07 -
1 tablespoon olive oil
08 -
1 1/4 cups long grain white rice, uncooked
09 -
2 to 3 cups fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
10 -
5 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup
11 -
1/2 cup milk
12 -
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
13 -
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
14 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
→ Topping
15 -
1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
16 -
2 tablespoons melted butter
# How to Make It:
01 -
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
02 -
Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized cubes and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
03 -
In a large pot, combine chicken broth, olive oil, and uncooked long grain white rice. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cover tightly and cook for 6 minutes.
04 -
Add fresh broccoli florets to the pot, replace the cover, and continue cooking for 9 more minutes, or until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked through. If needed, simmer 5 additional minutes with the cover on. Remove the pot from heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes. Do not stir.
05 -
Fold in cooked chicken, condensed cream of chicken soup, milk, dried thyme, garlic powder, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until evenly incorporated.
06 -
Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Spread the chicken, rice, and broccoli mixture evenly in the dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese.
07 -
Mix crushed Ritz crackers with melted butter and distribute evenly over the casserole.
08 -
Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the topping is golden and the cheese is melted.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 -
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking for easier serving. Substitute rotisserie chicken to speed up preparation.