Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole
A one-pot, easy chicken and rice casserole is always a winner. Add broccoli and cheese and you’re guaranteed empty plates.
Ingredients
- Butter/olive oil.
- Onion.
- Celery.
- Garlic.
- Chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs will work. Skinless chicken thighs will stay juicier while baking so I would recommend that over breasts.
- Paprika.
- Chilli flakes.
- Oregano. Other herbs like parsley or thyme will work too.
- Salt and black pepper.
- Broccoli. Other vegetables like mushrooms, corn, frozen mixed vegetables or peppers will all work.
- Rice. Any long grain white rice like Jasmine or Basmati rice will work.
- Chicken stock/chicken broth.
- Cheese. I used cheddar cheese but any good melting cheese will be delicious.
How to make chicken and rice casserole
I use a large sauté pan for this easy chicken rice casserole recipe but you can use a large skillet or casserole dish too. If using a baking dish, cook the vegetables and chicken in a large pan first then add to the dish with the rice and stock.
Sauté the onion, celery and garlic until soft and fragrant, approximately 3-5 minutes. Add the chicken and spices and cook until the chicken starts to brown. Stir in the broccoli florets, making sure everything is well-combined. Add the rice and pour in the stock then season with salt and pepper.
Cover with foil or a lid and place in a preheated oven. Allow to bake for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked. Sprinkle over the grated cheese then bake for another 5 minutes until melted before serving.
Can I make this ahead?
Absolutely! Prep the recipe all way to just before placing in the oven. Allow to cool then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. The baking time might need to be adjusted slightly as the rice will have absorbed some of the stock already but simply bake until the rice is cooked through. The finished casserole can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Add a little stock and reheat in the oven. Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave oven.
Casserole recipes
Ingredients
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 celery spears finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1½ tsp paprika
- 2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 1 kg (2lbs) chicken cubed
- 4 cups broccoli florets (approximately 300g/10oz)
- 2 cups rice
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 cups grated cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Saute the onion, celery and garlic until soft and fragrant, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add the chicken and spices and cook until the chicken starts to brown.
- Stir in the broccoli florets, making sure everything is well-combined.
- Add the rice and stock then season with salt and pepper.
- Cover and place in a preheated oven.
- Allow to bake for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is cooked.
- Scatter over the grated cheese then bake for another 5 minutes until melted before serving.
What temperature do you set the oven to?
180°C/350°F
Hi. Do we cook the chicken on low or medium heat? And does it have to fully cooked on the stove before putting it in the oven? Thanks
I cooked the chicken over medium-high heat and no, it doesn’t have to be fully cooked on the stove. It will be overcooked by the time the casserole is finished since it spends a good 20 minutes in the oven as well. 🙂
Hello Alida, can this casserole be frozen?
Regards Emma?
Absolutely! If you’d like you can bake the casserole in a foil container then cool completely, cover well (I would do at least 2 layers of foil) and freeze. Bake from frozen until hot throughout and if it looks a little dry, add a half cup of stock.