Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 50 mins | Total time: 1 hr | Servings: 6 PEOPLE
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is an amazing dinner option that you can easily make at any time. You can even assemble this casserole the night before and pop it in the oven the next day. Enjoy the best casserole with buttery, crunchy Ritz topping with this simple recipe!
Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or 2 c. diced rotisserie chicken
2 tbsp butter
2 ½ c. chicken broth
1 ¼ c. white long-grain rice, uncooked
2 c. fresh broccoli florets, uncooked
½ c. sour cream
½ c. milk
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese, separated
10.5 ounces Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Salt/Pepper, to taste
Optional Seasonings:
½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme
Casserole Topping:
2 tbsp melted butter
1 c. Ritz crackers, crushed
How to make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Step 1: Prepare the oven. Preheat it to 350 degrees.
Step 2: Into bite-sized pieces, cut the chicken and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Step 3: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the chicken and sear for about 5 minutes until all sides are golden brown. Set the chicken aside when done. If using rotisserie chicken, skip this step.
Step 4: To the pot, pour in the chicken broth. Add the olive oil and rice. Bring everything to a boil. Once boiling, decrease the heat to a simmer. Tightly cover the pot and continue to cook for another 6 minutes.
Sep 5: Remove the cover and add the broccoli. Put the lid back and cook for additional 9 minutes. Make sure to refrain from stirring.
Step 6: Turn the heat off, but leave the cover on. Allow the rice to sand for about 10 minutes. DO NOT STIR.
Step 7: Then, add the cooked chicken along with the soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and half of the cheddar cheese.
Step 8: Transfer everything to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.
Step 9: Tent the casserole and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for about 15 minutes until done.
Topping:
Step 10: To make the topping, melt the butter and crumble the crackers. Mix them well and sprinkle them on top of the casserole. Return to the oven and continue baking for another 10 minutes, uncovered.
Step 11: Before serving, allow the casserole to sit for about 10 minutes. Enjoy!
Melt the butter and crumble up the crackers. Combine to form the topping for the casserole.
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 511 kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 100mg, Sodium: 1174mg, Potassium: 470mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1068IU, Vitamin C: 35mg, Calcium: 376mg, Iron: 2mg