Description
A comforting and cheesy broccoli chicken and rice casserole baked to perfection, featuring tender chicken, creamy soups, fresh broccoli, and melted cheddar cheese. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a family dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts (cooked and shredded or cubed, about 4 cups)
- 10.5 ounces Campbell’s cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- 10.5 ounces Campbell’s cheddar cheese soup (1 can)
- 2 cups Minute rice (or quick cooking rice, uncooked)
- 12 ounces broccoli florets (frozen or fresh)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chicken base (optional, adds richness and flavor)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400˚F to ensure it reaches the right temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, cheddar cheese soup, shredded chicken, broccoli florets, uncooked rice, chicken broth, and sour cream. Stir thoroughly to blend all the components uniformly.
- Prepare for Baking: Spread the casserole mixture evenly into a 9×13 inch baking dish to ensure consistent cooking.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the mixture to create a cheesy crust.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil to trap steam and bake on the oven’s middle rack for 40 minutes. This allows the rice to cook through and flavors to meld.
- Uncover and Continue Baking: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes to brown the top.
- Broil (Optional): For extra crispiness, broil the casserole for 3-4 minutes until the cheese develops crispy, golden brown spots. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for color and fresh flavor, then serve warm.
Notes
- Using cooked and shredded chicken helps speed up the preparation.
- Minute rice cooks faster and is ideal for this casserole; avoid using long grain rice as it may not cook properly within the baking time.
- Chicken base is optional but adds depth and enhances the overall flavor.
- Broiling is optional but highly recommended for a delicious crispy cheese topping.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cheesy broccoli chicken casserole, chicken and rice casserole, baked chicken casserole, easy family dinner, creamy chicken casserole
