Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is the ultimate comfort food. A layer of creamy chicken and rice is topped with broccoli, cheese and crackers. Packed with delicious ingredients, every fork full is loaded with flavor and a delightful crunch. This is the perfect casserole recipe for hungry families.

Quick & Easy Meal

We love cozy comfort food recipes that are easy to make! Casserole recipes are like our ultimate chicken casserole and beef carrot and rice casserole and of course this chicken brococli rice casserole are perfect for the ultimate comfort dish.

This recipe is easy - A creamy sauce made from sour cream and cream of chicken soup is mixed with bite sized chicken pieces, jasmine rice and broccoli. Shredded cheese and crumbled ritz crackers are sprinkled on top.

Everything is dumped together in one casserole dish, even the raw chicken! It's baked in 45 minutes and served in no time.

• QUICK ASSEMBLY – I love a good dump-and-bake recipe, don't you? This recipe is prepared in 10 minutes and bakes worry-free while you focus on other important things.
• ONE POT DINNER – Only dish pot is needed which means less cleanup!
• EASY TO MAKE – Most of the ingredients are probably already in your cupboard and fridge. The rest are cheap and can be found at any local grocery store.
• FAMILY FRIENDLY - The flavors in this recipe tend to be a hit with most if not all family members. Chicken, rice and broccoli in creamy sauce, and topped with cheese and crackers - what's not to love?

Recipe Ingredients

Save this recipe for a night when you don't feel like putting in too much effort. Most of the ingredients can be dumped right into the casserole dish.

CHICKEN – This recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can use leftovers from a previous chicken recipe, or a store-bought rotisserie chicken.

RITZ CRACKERS – Ritz crackers are a classic on many casserole recipes. This will make a wonderful crunchy and flavourful topping that makes this meal so comforting. You can also use saltine crackers, croutons or crushed tortilla chips.

CHEDDAR CHEESE – Shredded cheddar cheese will give the best flavor.

BROCCOLI – I used a bag of pre-cut broccoli florets. You can also use frozen broccoli, but it will need to be thawed and blotted with paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

RICE – I used jasmine rice for this dish. It is important to use white long grain rice (not brown rice) to ensure proper cooking. Wild rice will require more liquid and take longer to cook, so don't use it.

CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP – Cream of chicken soup is the base of the sauce. Cream of broccoli or cream of mushroom soup will also work and be as equally delicious. 

CHICKEN BROTH – If you have some broth left over from a previous recipe, use it in this one for added flavor. If not, use 1 cup of water instead.

MILK & SOUR CREAM – Any milk will work, but whole milk will provide the most creaminess. You can use sour cream or plain greek yogurt.

SPICES – Black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning will bring the flavors out.

BUTTER – 2 tablespoon of salted butter is mixed with the crackers for the perfect crunchy topping.

Pro Tip: Avoid using minute rice, it will cook too fast the result will be too mushy. Short-grain rice tends to stick together like sushi rice. Jasmine rice is just perfect for this recipe.

Flavor Additions

It's easy to add other vegetables to this recipe. Have a look in your fridge and see if you have anything that might work. Here are some suggestions below.

• CORN AND PEAS – Add 1 cup of frozen corn or frozen peas.
• CAULIFLOWER – Swap the broccoli for cauliflower for a more neutral taste. Cauliflower is great for taking on flavors.
• ONIONS – Dice some onion and add it to the creamy sauce.
• GARLIC – Add some minced garlic to this dish for another flavor element.

How To Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

Gather all the ingredients and have them ready on the counter. The great thing about this recipe is the short amount of prep time needed to get it in the oven. Here's how to make the recipe with full details in the recipe card at the bottom of this article.

1. PREP - Next, chop the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, half the garlic powder, half the Italian seasoning, and half the black pepper.
2. CREAMY SAUCE - In a 9x13 baking dish, add the cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, milk, and sour cream. Stir this together using a fork or whisk. Then, add the rice in an even layer along the bottom of the dish. Make sure the rice is fully coated in the sauce. Add the broccoli on top of the rice.
3. CHICKEN - Add the chicken to the baking dish without mixing in. Sprinkle the remaining garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and black pepper over the whole dish.
4. BAKE - Cover the dish with tin foil, place on the middle rack in the oven, and bake for 45 minutes.
5. CRACKERS - Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave and crush enough Ritz crackers to measure 1 cup. Mix the crackers and butter making sure to evenly coat all the cracker crumbs.
6. TOPPING - After 45 minutes of baking, take the dish out of the oven, remove, and discard the tin foil, and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Then, sprinkle the cracker crumbs over the cheese and return it to the oven uncovered for 5 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
7. SERVE - Remove from oven and let it cool for 10 minutes. Scoop onto individual plates and enjoy.

Pro Tip: Use the broiler to add a little extra crispiness to the cheese and topping. Just be sure to keep a close eye on it so it does not burn.

How To Store

This is one of those assemble-now-bake-later recipes that are great for preplanned meals. Here are some tips for storing your premade and leftover dishes.   

• REFRIGERATE - In the fridge, this recipe will last 2 days uncooked (don't add the crackers if unbaked) and 3 days fully cooked. Crackers can get a bit soggy over time, the longer you store it.
• FREEZE - You can freeze the precooked dish for 3 months before baking. Just make the cracker topping the day of.
• REHEAT - Reheat this recipe in the microwave for a few minutes or in the oven at 350°F till crisp again.

Ways To Serve

This is a well-rounded casserole recipe that doesn't require any side dishes. However, if you want to pair it with something, here are a few ideas:

• SALAD - Add a simple garden salad, or greek salad for more veggies.
• BREAD - Serve with toast, biscuits or our dutch oven bread for a more filling meal. 
• SOUR CREAM - A spoonful of sour cream will add a little creamy delight to each bite.

Common Questions

This chicken broccoli rice casserole uses cheap and easy ingredients to make a filling meal. Jasmine rice, chicken and broccoli are mixed into a creamy sauce (made from sour cream and cream of chicken soup). All topped with cheese and crushed crackers for the ultimate comfort food.

More Casserole Recipes

Casseroles are a total time saver when planning your weekly household menu. Some can be made ahead of time and either refrigerated or frozen. Here are some more favorites to try:

• Tortellini Cheese Casserole
• Mushroom Hamburger Casserole
• Ham Cheese Pasta Casserole
• Beef Cabbage Roll Casserole
• Shredded Barbecue Chicken Casserole