Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

I don’t know about you, but I love collecting casserole recipes! There’s always a need for quick and easy go-to recipes that feed a family on a budget, and can be prepared ahead of time, and warmed up on busy nights!

This chicken rice broccoli casserole is one of my favorites. It’s made with chunks of juicy chicken, rice, and broccoli, in a creamy cheesy sauce baked until golden and bubbly. It’s hearty and filling and incredibly easy to make.

Why This Recipe Works

• Quick and easy - It gets even easier if you’re using leftover cooked chicken or store-bought rotisserie chicken and leftover rice. Then it’s just a matter of mixing everything and tossing it in the oven.
• Freezer-friendly - Bake it, cool it, and store it for later. Or make a second one and fill the freezer of a friend or family member in need of some extra love.
• Simple ingredients - There are plenty of ingredients in this chicken and rice casserole recipe that you may already have on hand.
• Tons of flavor - Seasoned chicken, cream of mushroom soup, broccoli, plenty of seasoning, and loads of cheddar cheese make this one tasty dish!

Ingredients

• Chicken: I use chicken thighs (about 4-5 of them) cut into bite-sized pieces. You can also use chicken breast or leftover chicken, or you can pick up a rotisserie chicken if preferred.
• Rice: Cooked Jasmine rice is what is listed, but because we’re using already cooked rice, you can use any kind you want. Any type of white rice or brown rice will work.
• Cream of mushroom soup: I have a great homemade cream of mushroom soup that I will sometimes use if I’ve got it on hand. Otherwise, a can of cream of mushroom soup will do.
• Seasoning: You’ll need salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder for tons of flavor!
• Broccoli: Wash and cut into tiny pieces.
• Sharp cheddar cheese: I love the sharpness of aged cheddar and I love grating it myself rather than buying pre-shredded. In my opinion, it tastes better and melts better.
• Parsley: Fresh herbs for garnish are completely optional.

How to Cook Chicken Thighs

I have so many chicken thigh recipes I've shared on my blog, each with their own seasoning, marinate, or flavor profile. Sometimes they're grilled, sometimes, baked, pan-fried, and sometimes I'll even air fry them.

There's no one way to cook chicken thighs for this recipe, but the main thing you want to consider is not to over season it. Avoid using sauces or marinades as it will alter the taste of the entire casserole. 

My recommendation is to season your chicken thighs with salt and pepper and pan fry or bake them until cooked all the way through. Once they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, they're ready to use. 

How to Make Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice, cooked chicken, cream of mushroom soup, spices, broccoli, and half of the sharp cheddar cheese.

Step 2: Mix everything until well combined. Transfer it to a prepared 9 x 13 casserole dish and make sure to spread it out evenly.

Step 4: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy!

Expert Tips & Substitutions

• If you don’t have cream of mushroom soup (or don’t like it) feel free to swap it with cream of chicken soup, cream of onion soup, or cream of broccoli soup instead.
• Add extra veggies if you’d like. Sliced mushrooms, peas, or bell peppers would be great.
• Make it ahead by assembling the ingredients in the casserole dish, covering it with plastic wrap, and keeping it refrigerated until you’re ready to bake it and serve it.
• Substitute sharp cheddar for any melty cheese. White cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, Monterey Jack, you name it.

What to Serve with Chicken and Rice Casserole

As you can imagine, this dish is pretty filling all by itself! We don’t need much, but a simple side salad is always a good idea.

I have so many favorites it’s hard to pick just one. chicken and rice casserole pairs well with all kinds of flavors, so here are just a few to pick from:

• The Best Caesar Salad with homemade dressing
• Greek Salad
• Cabbage Salad
• Carrot Salad with Garlic
• Black Bean Salad
• Cherry Tomato Salad