This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is ultimate comfort food. With easy ingredients and the ability to make it ahead, this chicken broccoli and rice casserole will become part of the meal rotation.
I am partnering with Gold’n Plump® to bring you this delicious dinner recipe.
I’m so excited about today’s recipe! It is a spin on my Broccoli Rice Casserole, but made with delicious Gold’n Plump® boneless skinless chicken breasts. If you are in the Midwest (and lots of other places!) you probably recognize this amazing comforting casserole. It’s a classic!
I love using Gold’n Plump® in my cooking! Their chicken always turns out moist and delicious. And I love that we are supporting a Midwestern brand has the ‘no antibiotics – ever’ label.
Gold’n Plump® is in the midst of a hunt though! Their mascot, Cooper, has gone missing! Join them on social media to see if you can figure out where Cooper has been spotted and be entered to win prizes!
Guess what!?! We spotted Cooper in our kitchen! (Psssst, check out my latest IG story to see if you can figure out where else we found him!) We found him as I was doing one of the things I love to do with my kids most: cooking!
Cooking with my kids is such a great way to spend time together. We talk, I teach them about something I love, and they get to understand more about filling a house with love by cooking delicious comforting meals.
TOTALLY FROM SCRATCH CHICKEN BROCCOLI CASSEROLE
I know there are a lot of people who get turned off from recipes that call for condensed soup.
I get it. So this chicken broccoli rice cheese casserole has the short cut of using the store bought condensed cream of chicken soup. But, you can also substitute that with my homemade condensed cream of chicken soup!
It makes the exact amount the can gives you, so it’s a perfect swap out.
MAKE AHEAD CHICKEN CASSEROLE
I love that this chicken broccoli cheese rice casserole is an easy make ahead meal. This makes it perfect for a busy week night.
Follow the instructions up until you put the mixture in the casserole dish and the stop. Cover it and put it in the refrigerator.
When you get home from work the next night, pull it out, add the remaining cheese and fried onions, and pop it in the oven. Just five extra minutes of bake time and you have a delicious chicken and broccoli casserole.
FREEZER FRIENDLY CHICKEN BROCCOLI RICE CASSEROLE
This chicken broccoli rice casserole makes a great freezer meal!
Use an aluminum disposable baking dish so you don’t have to worry about your frozen glass or ceramic dish cracking and breaking in your hot oven.
Like the instructions above, you want prepare your casserole but not top it. Wrap it several times in aluminum foil or plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.
When you are ready to bake it, take it right from the freezer, top it with the remaining cheddar cheese and fried onions and put in the oven.
Bake your frozen casserole for 45 minutes covered at 350 degrees. Then remove the foil and bake another 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbling.
SERVING SIZE FOR CHICKEN BROCCOLI RICE CASSEROLE
This recipe makes 7 cups. The nutritional information listed in the recipe card below is based on six servings. So each serving is one overflowing cup.
OTHER DELICIOUS RECIPES USING GOLD’N PLUMP CHICKEN®
As I mentioned, I love using Gold’n Plump Chicken® in my dinner recipes! Here are some other delicious ideas using their products:
- This Butter Chicken Recipe is super popular and my family loves how perfect that sauce is over rice.
- I’m obsessed with this Bourbon Chicken. It’s like take out but better!
- And everyone loves the amazing flavors in this Baked Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs.
If you make this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole or any of my other dinner recipes, please let me know by leaving a comment! I love hearing what’s working for you and what’s not.
FAQ
Do I cook the chicken before adding it?
Nope! The chicken goes into the recipe in step 3 raw.
Do I precook the rice?
Nope! Stir in the uncooked instant rice in step 3.
Can I use regular long grain rice instead of instant rice.
Sorry! This recipe was only tested with instant rice.
Can I use fresh broccoli instead of frozen.
Yes! You will just want to sauté it until it is tender rather than the time frame given below.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 16 ounces frozen broccoli
- 1 teaspoon onion powder optional
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 10 ounces condensed cream of chicken soup (store bought or homemade)
- 1 cup milk (I used skim)
- 1 cup instant rice
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1 pound Gold'n Plump Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts diced (uncooked)
- 1 cup fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a large sauce pan, melt the butter. Add the onion, and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the broccoli, and cook until no longer frozen, about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup, milk, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in the broccoli onion mixture, diced chicken, instant rice, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Pour into the prepared casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheese and fried onions. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes.
Notes
Video
Tammy says
Instead of cut up chicken could you do strips?
I think that would work!
PATpat says
2(343 Where can you buy canned fried oinions these days , not at safeway
I’m able to find them in my grocery store. I use French’s.
Maggy says
Love this recipe. Thank you
I’m so glad to hear it Maggy!
Linda says
Hi Lisa, to freeze this delicious casserole do you prepare it to step 3 and then add the extra cheese and onions when you cook it? Also do you thaw it or cook from frozen and if so what temperature and for how long. Thank you very much!
Yes! You add the cheese on top and the onions right before cooking. You can bake right from freezing, adding 15 minutes to the baking time. Make sure you freeze it in a container that won’t crack (like aluminum) when it goes from the freezer to the hot oven. You can find more details about this in the post about 3/4 ways through.
Brenda Richardson says
Was was one of the easier chicken, broccoli, rice casseroles and I added some canned corn. Was great. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I’m so happy you liked it!
Odis says
Can I use regular long grain rise instant rice?
No, unfortunately as written you need to use instant rice.
teresa says
hi i dont have an oven can it be cooked in a crock pot
I’m sorry, Teresa, I haven’t tried it in a crockpot. You could use this Crockpot Chicken and Rice Casserole recipe as a guide.
Rob says
I was wondering if cream of broccoli soup would work instead of cream of chicken?
Thanks!
Yes, that sounds delicious!
Bev Connon says
Hi! Do love your recipes! On the Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole, do I cook the diced chicken first or put in raw? Hope to make this recipe tonight! Thanks!
Bev Connon says
Hi! In looking at previous questions, I actually got my answer whether I need to cook the chicken first! Some of my favorite recipes are yours!! Especially loved by all my family is the bourbon chicken! You’re the best! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Bev! I will update the recipe so it’s more clear for others too. And thank you so much for your sweet words. We LOVE that Bourbon Chicken recipe too!