The Ultimate Comfort Dish
If you’re craving warm, cheesy comfort food, this Cheesy Chicken, Rice & Broccoli Casserole will be your new go-to. It’s hearty, full of flavor, and the kind of dish that makes everyone at the table happy. The tender chicken, creamy sauce, sharp cheddar cheese, and buttery Ritz cracker topping come together in one perfect bite. It’s family-friendly, meal-prep friendly, and tastes just as good the next day or microwave it out of the freezer for some fast hearty leftovers.
This will be the dish I turn to when the weather cools down or I just want something that feels like home.
Elle's Cheesy, Chicken, Rice & Broccoli Casserole
- butter
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 ½ lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast, seasoned with poultry seasoning, s&p
- 3 cloves garlic minced
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- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice, I precook this in the instant pot
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- 4 cups broccoli florets cut in bite size pieces, I use frozen
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- 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Montreal chicken seasoning or poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
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- 1 ¼ cups chicken broth
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers crushed 32 crackers
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onions and move the onions to one side of the skillet.
- Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned, flipping halfway through to brown both sides. Work in batches with the chicken, removing the cooked pieces to a plate and stirring the onions on the other side of the skillet.
- Once all the chicken has been cooked and removed, add the garlic to the onions and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Plate the onions and garlic.
- Chop the chicken
- Microwave broccoli for 2 minutes
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray 9×13 inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously while cooking for 2-3 minutes. Add spices. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Continue whisking and cooking until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Combine onions, 1/2 C cheese, chicken, rice & broccoli and pour sauce overtop. Stir to coat.
- Spoon the chicken mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the remaining cheese.
- Combine the crackers and 4 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle it over the casserole and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is browned and the cheese is melted.
