Homemade chicken and broccoli casserole: The ultimate comfort meal
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 delightful that even the pickiest eaters will go back 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 straightforward, and the taste? You just can't stop at one serving. It has everything we love—creamy sauce, tender rice, succulent 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, inexpensive, and use what was in the fridge at the time. It turned out to be spot on! 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:
- Approximately 300 grams of cooked rice,
- 2 chicken breasts,
- Medium broccoli,
- Onion,
- 2 cloves of garlic,
- 240 ml of 30% cream,
- 1 tablespoon of butter,
- 1 teaspoon of mustard,
- 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg,
- Salt and pepper to taste,
- Approximately 150 grams of shredded yellow cheese (e.g. cheddar or gouda), mozzarella can be used too.
Instructions:
- Brown the chicken with onion and garlic in butter, and season 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 mix, and sprinkle the other half on top.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes at 180°C, until the cheese melts and gets slightly golden.
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 truly tasty. It's perfect for both a quick weekday dinner and a dish for a gathering with friends. You can freely modify the add-ins, replace the chicken with turkey, swap rice for couscous, and replace cream with Greek yoghurt. 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.
