Description
This Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole is a comforting and hearty one-dish meal featuring tender rotisserie chicken, nutritious broccoli, and fluffy rice all baked together in a creamy, cheesy sauce. Topped with a crispy Cheez-It and butter crust, it’s a perfect family-friendly dinner that combines rich flavors with a satisfying crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein & Vegetables
- 1 rotisserie chicken, chopped
- 2–3 cups frozen broccoli florets, defrosted and cut into smaller pieces
Grains
- 1 ¼ cups uncooked long grain rice
Dairy & Creamy Components
- 1 cup freshly shredded colby jack cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
Soup & Seasonings
- 10.5 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 ½ tsp Better Than Bouillon roasted chicken base
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Tony’s Creole seasoning
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Other
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 cups Cheez-Its, crushed
Instructions
- Cook the rice: Prepare the long grain rice according to the package directions until fully cooked and fluffy.
- Prepare baking dish: Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Combine main ingredients: In the baking dish, add the chopped rotisserie chicken, defrosted and chopped broccoli florets, cooked rice, and season with salt and cracked black pepper.
- Make bouillon base: In a large bowl, dissolve the Better Than Bouillon roasted chicken base in 2 cups of hot water, stirring well until completely combined.
- Add creamy sauce ingredients: To the bouillon mixture, add condensed cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, Tony’s Creole seasoning, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
- Mix sauce thoroughly: Whisk the ingredients together until the creamy sauce is smooth and fully combined.
- Combine casserole: Pour the creamy sauce over the chicken, broccoli, and rice in the baking dish, then stir everything together until evenly incorporated.
- Add cheese topping: Evenly sprinkle the shredded colby jack cheese over the top of the mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake the casserole: Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30 minutes until bubbly and heated through.
- Prepare Cheez-It topping: While baking, combine the crushed Cheez-Its with melted butter in a bowl until the crumbs are well coated.
- Add crispy crust: After the initial 30 minutes of baking, remove the casserole from the oven and evenly sprinkle the buttery crushed Cheez-Its over the surface.
- Finish baking: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the topping is golden brown and crispy.
- Rest before serving: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to set before serving. Enjoy your comforting meal!
Notes
- Cooking times may vary depending on your oven; keep an eye on the topping to avoid burning.
- Using rotisserie chicken saves preparation time and adds great flavor, but you can use cooked chicken breast instead.
- To make this dish gluten-free, substitute the cream of chicken soup and Better Than Bouillon with gluten-free alternatives, and use gluten-free crackers instead of Cheez-Its for the topping.
- For extra creaminess, you can add a little more sour cream or cheese.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Broccoli Chicken Casserole, Chicken and Rice, Cheesy Casserole, Comfort Food, One Dish Meal
