Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole – cooks all in ONE POT in 30 minutes! Loaded with chicken, fresh broccoli and rice in a creamy, cheesy sauce finished with a crispy, buttery crushed Ritz topping.

When my kids were small I used to make a dish called Chicken Divan. Bites of chicken in a creamy, cheesy sauce that called for a box of frozen broccoli with cheese sauce. 

I served it over rice and the whole family loved it, even though one kid just picked out the chicken and doused it in ketchup, Hey – a win is a win.

This version is even better with fresh broccoli and because there’s no ‘side of rice’ you’ll only have one pot to wash when you’re finished – and kids – feel free to dunk all you want in your condiment of choice.

Love a good chicken and rice casserole? How about one that cooks in just 30 minutes. This is it. 

You won’t want to skip the buttery, crispy Ritz cracker topping. It’s finishes the dish really well and who doesn’t love the taste of Ritz? 

what’s in cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole?

• olive oil
• boneless chicken breasts cut in bite size pieces
• salt and pepper
• garlic powder
• long grain white rice (uncooked)
• chicken stock
• can Cream of Chicken Soup 
• fresh broccoli florets
• sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• sour cream

Crispy Topping:

• crushed Ritz crackers
• butter

how to make chicken broccoli rice casserole:

QUICK TIPS:

• Use regular long grain rice, not minute or instant rice.
• Cook in a large deep skillet (or pot) so the rice can spread out and cook evenly and there’s room for the liquid. My skillet is about 3 ” deep.

Drizzle the olive oil to a large, deep oven-safe skillet or pot then add the chicken. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder then sear on both sides.

Add the UNCOOKED rice to the skillet and toast for 1 minute over medium heat.

Pour in the chicken stock and (undiluted) can of soup then whisk to combine. Cover and cook 7 minutes over medium heat stirring occasionally. The rice won’t be fully cooked at this point.

Add the broccoli florets, ½ cup of the cheddar cheese and the sour cream then continue cooking 8 more minutes over medium heat or until the rice and broccoli are tender stirring occasionally.

NOTE: If it’s too saucy when the rice and broccoli have finished cooking, increase the heat to medium high and cook uncovered 1-2 more minutes letting it thicken.

Crispy Ritz Crack Topping:

While the casserole is cooking melt the butter in a small bowl. Add the Ritz crackers to a zip top bag and crush using your fist or a rolling pin then combine with the butter.

After the casserole is finished cooking, sprinkle the cracker topping evenly over the casserole and eat right away – OR – broil for 1-3 minutes until golden then serve.

Looking for more easy comfort meals?

Salisbury Steak – this is the BEST Salisbury Steak recipe that I’ve been making it for decades. Seasoned ground beef patties simmered in rich mushroom onion gravy. Serve with mashed potatoes or egg noodles.

Chicken Alfredo Pasta – tender pasta blanketed in creamy Alfredo sauce with bites of juicy chicken. Cooks in ONE POT in under 30 minutes.

Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff – ONE POT meal with ground beef, egg noodles and fresh mushrooms in a rich creamy sour cream sauce.

Craving more broccoli? Try this Better-Than-Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup packed with fresh broccoli and cheese.

Enjoy!

If you make this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe or any other on the blog, then I’d love to hear from you with a comment or a bunch of stars!

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Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Bites of chicken, fresh broccoli and and tender rice in a creamy, cheesy sauce with crispy, buttery crushed Ritz topping. Quick and easy one pot meal.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken broccoli rice casserole, chicken and rice casserole, cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole, chicken divan

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3/4 to 1 pound boneless chicken breasts may sub boneless thighs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 cup long grain rice (NOT Minute/Quick Cook Rice) UNCOOKED
• 2 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 10.5 ounce can Cream of Chicken soup
• 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 1 1/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese grated divided
• 2 tablespoons sour cream

Crispy Topping

• 2 tablespoons butter melted
• 12 whole Ritz crackers crushed

Instructions

• Drizzle the olive oil to a large, deep oven-safe skillet or pot then add the chicken. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder then sear on both sides.
• Add the UNCOOKED rice to the skillet and toast for 1 minute over medium heat.
• Pour in the chicken stock and (undiluted) can of soup then whisk to combine. Cover and cook 7 minutes over medium heat stirring occasionally.
• Add the broccoli florets, ½ cup of the cheddar cheese and sour cream then blend and continue cooking 8 more minutes over medium heat or until the rice and broccoli are tender stirring occasionally.

  NOTE: If it’s too saucy when the rice and broccoli have finished cooking, increase the heat to medium high and cook uncovered 1-2 more minutes letting it thicken.

Crispy Ritz Topping:

• While the casserole is cooking melt the butter in a small bowl. Add the Ritz crackers to a zip top bag and crush using your fist or a rolling pin then blend with the butter.
• After the casserole is finished cooking, sprinkle the cracker topping evenly over the casserole and eat right away OR (optional) broil for 1-3 minutes until golden then serve.