Comfort in a casserole: How chicken and broccoli steal dinner
Do you have broccoli, chicken, and rice in your fridge? It's no accident; it's a sign that you need to make this casserole for dinner today. Creamy, cheesy, and so good that even the pickiest eater will go for seconds. And then maybe another. And another.
When you're short on time but don't want to compromise on culinary quality, this chicken and broccoli rice casserole is your saving grace. It's incredibly quick to make, the ingredients are simple, and the taste? You just can't stop at one serving. It has everything we love—creamy sauce, tender rice, delicate chicken, and lightly crunchy broccoli. Plus, there's the golden cheese on top, creating a wonderful, stretchy blanket. Dishes like this have something special. They may seem simple, yet you return to them with pleasure.
The chicken and broccoli rice casserole is a foolproof meal
This dish came about out of necessity. It had to be quick, affordable, and utilize what was already in the fridge. It turned out to be a perfect hit! My daughter loves it, and my fiancé keeps asking for more. It tastes best warm, straight from the oven, but even reheated the next day, it doesn’t lose its charm. You can take it to work in a lunchbox or make a larger portion for two days. Its biggest advantage is flexibility: if you don't have broccoli, cauliflower, sugar snap peas, or even spinach will work.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of cooked rice
- 2 chicken breasts
- medium broccoli
- onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 cup of 30% cream
- 1 tablespoon of butter
- 1 teaspoon of mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
- salt, pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups of shredded yellow cheese (e.g., cheddar or gouda), mozzarella can be used too
Instructions:
- Brown the chicken with onion and garlic in butter, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Cut the broccoli into florets and cook until half-tender.
- Mix everything with rice, cream, mustard, and nutmeg.
- Mix half of the cheese into the mixture, and sprinkle the other half on top.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes at 177°C, until the cheese melts and gets slightly golden. This would be around 350°F.
The broccoli and chicken rice casserole tastes best when served warm, accompanied by your favourite sides, like tomato salad or fresh herbs.
Why is this chicken and broccoli rice casserole a hit?
Because it's homemade, filling, and simply... delicious. You don't need to be a master chef to make it—just a handful of ingredients and the willingness to create something delicious. It's perfect for a quick weekday dinner and a dish for a friend's gathering. You can freely modify the add-ins, replace the chicken with turkey, swap rice for couscous, and replace cream with Greek yogurt. It's a recipe that can be easily tailored to your needs and what you have at home.
And the best part is that it disappears from the dish faster than you can set the cutlery on the table. After the first bite, you'll understand why so many people come back to it regularly. The chicken and broccoli rice casserole is a home classic that never gets boring.
