Made-from-scratch creamy, cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole made in ONE POT on the stove! Tastes like risotto, but much faster to make and completely low maintenance. Loaded with tons of broccoli, this is a terrific quick dinner idea you can get on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
It never even crossed my mind to make a recipe such as this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole from anything but scratch. But a quick Google and I was somewhat bemused to find that there are in fact many versions of similar rice casseroles made using canned soup.
I’ve never tried this with canned soup, and I never intend to. Having tried canned soup in various forms in my time, I can say with absolute confidence that homemade from scratch is tastier, it’s better for you and it’s easy!
How to make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole – from scratch!
Sauté garlic and onion in butter and/or oil, then mostly cook the chicken – it finishes cooking with the rice;
Add flour, milk, broth and basic seasonings (salt, pepper, thyme), then add the rice right into the same pot. As the rice cooks, the flour thickens the liquid which makes the sauce beautifully creamy;
After 12 minutes of simmering, add the broccoli and cook for a further 3 minutes; then
Stir through cheese, top with more cheese then give it a quick broil/grill just to melt the cheese.
What this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole tastes like
It tastes like a creamy, cheesy risotto, it truly does. Except it’s made with normal white rice.
And being the rice snob that I am ( 🤗Asian blood), I promise you that this is as far from gluey rice as you can get. The rice is just cooked to tender al dente and it’s smothered in a creamy sauce (but no cream), as opposed to overcooked super soft rice that is gluggy with thick sauce.
Here’s close up proof – see? 🙂 If it were overcooked and gluey, the surface of the rice grains would look mushy.
I wasn’t quite sure what to call this recipe. I think of this as a rice bake which is completely illogical because it’s not cooked in the oven at all. Though someone please remind me a few months down the track to share the recipe for this that’s made entirely in the oven!
So in the end, I decided to call it a casserole, guessing that is what normal people would call this. Is that what this is?? I’m not sure. I know I’ll always think of this as a “Rice Bake”! – Nagi x
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Watch how to make it
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One Pot Broccoli, Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp (30g ) unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 500g (1 lb) chicken thigh , cut into bite size pieces (Note 1)
- 2.5 tbsp flour (or 1 ½ tbsp. cornflour / cornstarch)
- 2 cups (500 ml) milk (any, I use low fat)
- 2 cups (500 ml) chicken broth
- 1 1/4 cups (225g) long grain white rice , uncooked (Note 2)
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or other herb of choice)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 large head of broccoli, broken / cut into small florets (~400 – 500g / 14 oz – 1 lb) (Note 3)
- 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella or cheddar (or other cheese of choice) (Note 4)
- Finely chopped parsley , optional garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter and heat oil in a pot over high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add chicken and cook until it changes from pink to white. (Note 5)
- Turn stove DOWN to medium. Add flour and stir for 1 minute.
- Add half the milk, stirring as you go, and once incorporated into the flour add the rest of the milk and stir.
- Add broth, rice, thyme and a just pinch of salt and pepper.
- Stir, bring to simmer, then cover. Turn down to medium low and cook for 12 minutes.
- Remove lid – there should still be liquid on the surface. Working quickly, add broccoli, push down so it’s partly submerged, cover and cook for a further 3 minutes until broccoli is just cooked.
- Preheat grill/broiler. Remove lid and stir through half the cheese – don’t worry if it looks a bit too saucy, excess liquid gets sucked up in minutes (see video). Smooth surface, top with remaining cheese. Grill/broil until melted (or just put lid on and allow to melt with residual heat on turned off stove).
- Serve immediately, garnished with parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Chicken and Rice Casserole originally posted January 2018. Updated for housekeeping matters in January 2019 – no change to recipe, I wouldn’t dare!
More one-pot Chicken and Rice recipes
- Baked Chicken and Rice – one of my all time most popular recipes!
- One Pot Chinese Chicken and Fried Rice
- One Pot Greek Chicken and Lemon Rice – firm reader favourite!
- One Pot Chicken Shawarma and Chickpea Rice
- See all One Pot Recipes
More Chicken and Broccoli recipes
For those of you who consider these standard weekly grocery items like I do!
Life of Dozer
This is how he leaps into the water – eyes tightly closed and nose up. If he were human, he’d be holding his nose and wearing goggles. For sure.
This looks delicious!! I wonder though, would this recipe work with cauliflower instead of the broccoli? I love broccoli but it upsets by spouse’s stomach.
YES YES YES!!!
Super comfort food, which looking out the window at the rain and snow is a welcome idea for tomorrows dinner.
Looks as though Dozer is practicing his breast stroke.
Breast stroke? You mean – doggy paddle? 😂
My dogs are envious Dozer…….you make life look soooooo exciting! Alas our dogs would need to know how to drill through at a minimum a couple of feet of ice – right now. But spring – well it springs eternal….so one day they will be able to jump in the lake too. But gosh! that pool likes good – move over Dozer…we’re heading down 🙂
Do your dogs skate across the ice?? 🤣
Well, the minutes I saw risotto I couldn’t get to the recipe fast enough. And as far as the colores go?? Well, gold and green look good on me, not that I’ll be wearing the meal. If it makes me drool then I believe you’ve done your job well. And a corn dip??? YES!! The super bowl is right around the corner. Don’t forget the yellow nacho chips and some kind of spicy hamburger dip. Lemonade or even beer would be nice and then how about some tea. Yep — lets keep up the color scheme. Sending hugs to you and Dozer!!!
What are you doing for Super Bowl Sunday Marisa??
Neither one of our teams are playing — we’ll be chowing down on some brown steak 🙂 I think I’ll go through some of your recipes and do a green and yellow on the side. Have a great day!! bTW Send us some of your heat, please.
Hi Nagi, Thanks for another great stove top recipe. I love this combination of chicken and broccoli with rice. It goes
well with your other great stove top chicken and rice recipes which keeps me salivating every time I read one of
those recipes. I will make this and serve it with your “Fantastical” Cheesy Zucchini Bread which blew my socks off…LOL
Dozer is so lucky to be with you…..
Keep on publishing….
Love and regards,
Bobby and Furries XXOOXX
PS: Five Stars are not enough. You deserve 100 !!!!!
I WILL NEVER STOP! Pats to the furries! N xx
Hi Nagi,
Thank you for all the awesome recipes. My only ‘go to source’ of recipes when at a loss for dinner ideas.
I cant wait to try the One Pot Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole! Yummy!!
Thanks you are a star
I’m so flattered Esther! Thank you for the lovely compliment! N xx
Could I use tarragon instead of thyme?
Absolutely! I should add that in – use whatever herbs you want 🙂 N x
Belated Happy Australia. DAY.and thanks again for the yummy casserole. DOZER you are one very lucky spoilt dog 🐕 cheers xo Gillian and Luca
He IS spoilt!!!
Now I’m waiting for a corn and beans recipe to round out the week 🙂
😫 What if I told you a corn dip was on the cards for Friday but I’m seriously thinking of changing it….???