Description
Comfort meets convenience in this broccoli rice chicken and cheese casserole, a hearty one-dish meal blending creamy textures with robust flavors. Home cooks find pure satisfaction in this simple, nourishing dinner that brings warmth and wholesome goodness to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Vegetable Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 heads broccoli
- 1 cup white rice
Dairy and Cheese Components:
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light olive oil coating.
- Cook white rice according to package instructions, ensuring it’s slightly undercooked to prevent mushiness during baking.
- Trim and chop broccoli into bite-sized florets, then briefly blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes to maintain vibrant color and crisp texture.
- Slice chicken breasts into uniform cubes, seasoning thoroughly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté chicken pieces until golden brown and nearly cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Melt butter in a separate saucepan, whisking in heavy cream, sour cream, and chicken broth to create a rich, creamy sauce.
- Layer the partially cooked rice as the base in the prepared baking dish, followed by the sautéed chicken and blanched broccoli florets.
- Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the chicken, rice, and broccoli, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously across the top of the casserole.
- Dust the surface with breadcrumbs for a crispy, golden topping.
- Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top turns a beautiful golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to set.
Notes
- Achieve perfect rice texture by cooking it slightly undercooked, preventing mushiness during baking and maintaining a fluffy consistency.
- Blanch broccoli quickly to preserve its vibrant green color and crisp texture, ensuring it doesn’t become soggy or lose nutritional value.
- Customize the casserole by substituting chicken with tofu or plant-based protein for a vegetarian version, keeping the creamy sauce and cheese elements intact.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium chicken broth and reducing added salt, making the dish more heart-healthy without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 812 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg