This Chicken Broccoli Casserole is creamy and satisfying with tender chicken, rice and broccoli in the tastiest sauce. Made in one skillet and tested-till-perfect, this easy recipe is family favorite comfort food!
There’s nothing better than a saucy, cozy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole on a cool night. The sauce is lick-the-spoon good with a creamy tang and rich flavor.
Best part is there’s one pan to scrub! Craving more cozy dinners like this? Check out all my chicken and rice recipes for easy one-pot comfort food.
Broccoli Chicken Casserole Recipe Ingredients
My version uses sour cream and mayo instead of canned soup and tastes even better than my grandmother’s.
- Rice (leftover or freshly cooked; use brown rice, long-grain white, microwave rice or my easy basmati rice recipe)
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- Cooked chicken (rotisserie, leftover thighs, or air fryer frozen chicken breasts)
- Sharp cheddar cheese Love broccoli and cheese? Try my Broccoli Cheddar Soup recipe, too!
- Breadcrumbs (panko preferred)
Variations and Substitutions
- Gluten-free: Use GF flour and certified GF crumbs.
- Healthier: Swap sour cream for Greek yogurt, light mayo for regular, and use brown rice. (Try my other healthy chicken recipes, too!
- Cheese swap: Try mozzarella, Gruyère, or parmesan.
- Add veg: Sautéed mushrooms, peppers, or carrots.
- Retro topping: Use crushed Ritz instead of breadcrumbs.
Grab These Tools
- Large cast-iron skillet or other oven-safe pan
- Whisk for a smooth sauce
- Knife and cutting board
- Small bowl to mix crumbs with oil
- Wooden spoon for stirring
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole: Easy Step-by-Step Directions
One skillet saucy chicken and rice bake. Here’s the flow:
Preheat and Sauté
Preheat the oven. In the skillet over the stovetop, sauté onions and garlic in butter until soft and fragrant.
Make the Sauce
Sprinkle in flour and whisk. Gradually add broth, whisking until smooth. Off heat, whisk in sour cream and mayo; season with salt and pepper.
Assemble and Bake
Stir in broccoli, rice, and cooked chicken. Top with cheddar. Toss breadcrumbs with olive oil; scatter over cheese. Bake until bubbly with a golden crust.
Broccoli lovers must try my crispy air fryer broccoli recipe, too!
How to Serve This Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Straight from the oven: Serve hot for peak melty-cheese vibes.
- Side pairings: Light salad or steamed veg to balance richness.
- Garnish: Fresh parsley or chives for color and lift.
- Bread: Crusty bread or rolls to scoop up sauce.
Notes, Pro Tips and Science-Based Secrets
- Build flavor with a butter sauté of onion and garlic; whisk flour in before liquids. If your pan is oven-safe, it’s truly one-skillet.
- Don’t add extra rice even if it looks liquidy. It continues absorbing sauce after baking, and you want to keep it saucy.
- If the sauce looks curdled after adding sour cream/mayo, temper them with a cup of hot sauce from the pan first, then whisk in off heat. It bakes out smooth.
- No cooked chicken? Sear 4–6 skin-on thighs first; bake to 165ºF internal. Shred or chop and proceed.
- Cracker topping option: crushed Ritz for a nostalgic crunch.
If you’re looking for another creamy, cozy chicken dinner, my Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas are a favourite.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make it work for your week with these options:
Storing Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Airtight container, 3–4 days.
- Reheat: 350ºF oven until hot and bubbly, or microwave in portions.
- Moisture check: If dry, add a splash of broth before reheating.
Assemble or Freeze Ahead
- Assemble ahead: Build casserole without crumbs; refrigerate 1 day. Add crumbs and bake.
- Freeze: Bake, cool fully, then wrap and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in fridge; reheat covered, then uncover to re-crisp.
FAQs About Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Just skimming through? Here are quick answers to common questions.
Yes. The type of rice is flexible—just make sure it’s cooked before adding. Long-grain white or basmati keep the texture light; brown rice adds chew and nuttiness.
Replace chicken with extra vegetables like cauliflower, mushrooms, or tofu. Use vegetable broth and keep bake time similar; aim for hot, bubbly, and tender broccoli.
Full-fat Greek yogurt is a great swap. Stir it in off heat to prevent splitting; the casserole will still be creamy and tangy.
Stored airtight, leftovers keep 3–4 days. Reheat covered until steaming hot, then uncover to re-crisp the topping.
Yes. Cool completely and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat covered at 350ºF; uncover to crisp the crumbs.
If reheating from frozen, cover and bake at 350ºF until hot in the center. Time varies by pan depth; finish uncovered to crisp.
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 cups finely chopped onion from 1 large or 2 small
- ½ tsp kosher salt*
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 4 cups chicken broth
- ½ tsp freshly-ground pepper
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups broccoli florets, cut small from 1 broccoli crown
- 2 cups cooked rice white or brown
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 1 cup grated cheddar
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Heat butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and 1/2 tsp salt and stir. When onions soften (about 6 minutes), add the garlic and cook a minute more.
- Sprinkle flour over the onions and stir. Whisk in the broth, 1/2 cup at a time to prevent lumps. Allow mixture to come to a boil and thicken up.
- Once the sauce is bubbly and thick, turn off the heat. Whisk in the sour cream, mayo and black pepper. Taste and add more salt to taste (see recipe note below).
- Gently stir in the broccoli, chicken and rice. Top with cheese.
- Drizzle olive oil over breadcrumbs in a small bowl and use your fingers to combine until all the breadcrumbs are moistened. Sprinkle over cheese. Bake until bubbly and golden, about 20 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve been making this chicken broccoli casserole recipe for years! It’s a gem.
Tried this with some low fat cheese, not bad at all. Good when ur watching ur weight but craving comfort food.
Anyone tried this with brown rice or quinoa? Trying to keep it healthy but still craving that cheesy goodness.
I did it with quinoa, turned out great!
Did it change the taste much with quinoa?
omg, this was super easy to make and so good, gonna cook it again for sure
I tried making this for my kids and they loved it. Quick and easy meals like this are a lifesaver for a busy dad. Thanks for sharing!
hey, can i use frozen broccoli instead of fresh? got a bag sitting in my freezer lol
Yeah, frozen works fine, just maybe cook it less.