Description
A comforting Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole combining tender chicken, fresh broccoli, fluffy rice, and creamy cheddar cheese sauce, baked to golden perfection and topped with crispy fried onions for added texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Topping
- 1/2 cup crispy fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked diced chicken, broccoli florets, and cooked rice evenly.
- Prepare Sauce: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Sauce and Main Ingredients: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken mixture, then add 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything together until uniformly mixed.
- Transfer to Casserole Dish: Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish and spread the mixture evenly into it.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top of the casserole for a cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Add Crispy Onions: If using, sprinkle the crispy fried onions over the casserole and bake for an additional 5 minutes to crisp the onions slightly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Make sure the chicken and rice are fully cooked before assembling the casserole.
- You can substitute cream of chicken soup with cream of mushroom or cream of celery for different flavors.
- For a lower-fat version, use reduced-fat cheese and sour cream.
- If fresh broccoli is not available, frozen broccoli can be used; steam or thaw it beforehand.
- Crispy fried onions are optional but add great crunch and flavor.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; increase baking time slightly if baking from cold.
