Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

This cheesy broccoli chicken rice casserole recipe creates a delicious medley of tender chicken, fluffy rice, broccoli, and melted sharp cheddar cheese baked into a comforting one-dish meal. The chicken broccoli rice casserole is classic rice casserole comfort food that has been popular for decades (I remember it back in the 1970s). It is an easy weeknight dinner for the whole family, especially on busy weeknights when you need a full meal with simple ingredients such as leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.

Below, you’ll find the ingredients, step-by-step prep, and baking instructions, plus tips for using fresh or frozen broccoli.

How to Make a Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Let's make this easy broccoli chicken and rice casserole with cheese! Follow along here for step-by-step directions, complete with pictures or hop down to the printable recipe card below.

The recipe makes 6 servings.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients for Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole

Here is everything you will need to make this hearty casserole for your family.

Equipment: 9x13 casserole dish, spatula or wooden spoon and large mixing bowl

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
• 2 cups cooked white rice, Long-grain white rice or jasmine rice is recommended for a fluffy texture. Tip: Cook it in chicken broth for extra flavor
• 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

If using fresh broccoli, steam the florets for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly tender. If using frozen broccoli, thaw and drain it well.

In a large bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until smooth.

Add the cooked chicken, cooked rice, broccoli, and 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir until everything is evenly coated in the creamy mixture.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese over the top.

Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is hot throughout and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Variations on the Recipe

Here are a few swaps or additions to the cheesy chicken casserole recipe that may better suit your personal taste or what is on-hand.

• Though cream of chicken canned soup is preferrable, either cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup can be swapped in for it.
• Feel free to use cooked brown rice if you are looking to boost fiber in the dish.
• Toss in sliced mushrooms, cooked or wilted spinach, or other veggies to the casserole. Just be mindful that most will need to be at least par cooked before adding.
• For a crunchy topping: cover the top of the casserole with an even layer of crushed Ritz crackers, potato chips or even tortilla chips.
• If you don't have leftover or rotisserie chicken a pound of ground chicken can be lightly browned in a skillet and used in the casserole.
• To make the casserole with bite sized pieces of raw chicken, either lightly sauté the slices before adding to the casserole dish or add another 20 minutes to the bake time.
• If you have leftover holiday turkey, it can be swapped for the chicken in this recipe for a flavorful change to the leftovers.

Storage and Meal Prep

This dish can be prepped up to 2 days ahead and baked later. Simply assemble and cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then refrigerate until ready to bake.

Cool completely, then leftover casserole can be sealed in an airtight container and it will be good for 3-4 days in the fridge. For longer term storage freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F or microwave until heated through. If frozen, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. I like to add more cheese when reheating.

For a similar version without broccoli, shredded or chopped chicken can be swapped for the meat my cheesy ground beef rice casserole. You may also enjoy my Chicken and Stuffing Casserole or Broccoli Au Gratin Casserole.