Hamdi Saidani Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole is made with boneless skinless chicken breasts, white long-grain rice, fresh broccoli florets, and shredded cheddar cheese, along with the cream of chicken soup, milk, and sour cream. This easy Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole recipe creates a delicious dinner that takes about 50 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 6 people.
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (or 2 cups of diced rotisserie chicken)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 1/2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium recommended)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/4 cups uncooked white long-grain rice
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 10.5 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Optional seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Casserole Topping:
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
How To Make Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (177° C). Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Prepare the chicken: Season chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat until melted. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through about 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside. (Skip this step if using cooked rotisserie chicken.)
- Cook the rice: In the same pot, add the chicken broth and olive oil, then stir in the rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover tightly, and cook for 6 minutes. Add the broccoli, re-cover, and continue to cook for an additional 9 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. If necessary, continue cooking for up to 5 more minutes until the rice is fully cooked.
- Combine the ingredients: Turn off the heat. To the rice and broccoli mixture, add the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Stir to combine everything evenly.
- Bake the casserole: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Add the topping and finish baking: While the casserole bakes, mix the crushed crackers with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Remove the casserole from the oven, discard the foil, and evenly spread the cracker topping over the casserole. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crispy.
- Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly.
Recipe Tips
- Rice Cooking: Follow the instructions on the rice package carefully. Different rice brands might need different amounts of water and cooking times. Make sure the rice is soft and all the water is absorbed.
- Chicken Preparation: If you’re using raw chicken, cook it until it’s golden brown and there is no pink inside to avoid any sickness. If you’re using rotisserie chicken, cut it into small pieces so it mixes well in the casserole.
- Cheese and Broccoli: Shred your own cheese for the best flavor and melting. Use fresh or frozen broccoli that’s cut into even pieces. If you use frozen broccoli, thaw it and dry it well. You can also steam it for about 5 minutes for a softer texture.
- Baking and Topping: Spread the ingredients evenly in the baking dish. Put the cracker topping on only in the last 10 minutes of baking to keep it crispy.
- Resting and Serving: Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes after baking. This makes it easier to cut and serve.
What To Serve With Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole goes great with garlic bread, a light Caesar salad, green beans, and corn with butter. You can also serve it with glazed carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, cucumber salad, and tangy coleslaw for a full meal.
How To Store Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
- Refrigerate: Let the casserole cool, then cover it or put it in a sealed container. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Wrap the casserole well with foil, then put it in a freezer bag or container. It can stay frozen for 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
How To Reheat Leftover Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
- In The Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Put the casserole in a dish, cover with foil, and warm for 15-20 minutes until hot.
- In The Microwave: Put some casserole in a microwave-safe dish, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and heat on high for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the middle so it heats evenly.
- In The Air Fryer: Heat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Put the casserole in an air fryer-safe container and heat for 5-10 minutes. Check it to make sure it doesn’t get too dry.
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings
- Calories: 511 kcal
- Total Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Dietary Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
FAQs
Can I Make This Casserole Ahead Of Time?
Yes, you can prepare this casserole up to one day ahead. Assemble all the ingredients in the casserole dish, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking as directed.
Can I Use Brown Rice Instead Of White Rice?
ou can use brown rice, but it takes longer to cook and might need more water. Always check the rice package for the right way to cook it.
What Other Cheeses Can I Use Besides Cheddar?
You can use mozzarella or provolone, or mix different cheeses that melt well. Just avoid very hard cheeses because they don’t melt easily.
Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:
- Pioneer Woman Broccoli Cauliflower Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Buffalo Chicken Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Dorito Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Tortilla Casserole
- Pioneer Woman Chicken Stuffing Casserole
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
Description
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole is made with boneless skinless chicken breasts, white long-grain rice, fresh broccoli florets, and shredded cheddar cheese, along with the cream of chicken soup, milk, and sour cream. This easy Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole recipe creates a delicious dinner that takes about 50 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 6 people.
Ingredients
Optional seasonings:
Casserole Topping:
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F (177° C). Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
- Prepare the chicken: Season chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot over medium-high heat until melted. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through about 5 minutes. Remove from the pot and set aside. (Skip this step if using cooked rotisserie chicken.)
- Cook the rice: In the same pot, add the chicken broth and olive oil, then stir in the rice. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover tightly, and cook for 6 minutes. Add the broccoli, re-cover, and continue to cook for an additional 9 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. If necessary, continue cooking for up to 5 more minutes until the rice is fully cooked.
- Combine the ingredients: Turn off the heat. To the rice and broccoli mixture, add the cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, optional seasonings, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Stir to combine everything evenly.
- Bake the casserole: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Add the topping and finish baking: While the casserole bakes, mix the crushed crackers with 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Remove the casserole from the oven, discard the foil, and evenly spread the cracker topping over the casserole. Return to the oven and bake, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes, or until the topping is golden and crispy.
- Serve: Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly.
Notes
- Rice Cooking: Follow the instructions on the rice package carefully. Different rice brands might need different amounts of water and cooking times. Make sure the rice is soft and all the water is absorbed.
- Chicken Preparation: If you’re using raw chicken, cook it until it’s golden brown and there is no pink inside to avoid any sickness. If you’re using rotisserie chicken, cut it into small pieces so it mixes well in the casserole.
- Cheese and Broccoli: Shred your own cheese for the best flavor and melting. Use fresh or frozen broccoli that’s cut into even pieces. If you use frozen broccoli, thaw it and dry it well. You can also steam it for about 5 minutes for a softer texture.
- Baking and Topping: Spread the ingredients evenly in the baking dish. Put the cracker topping on only in the last 10 minutes of baking to keep it crispy.
- Resting and Serving: Let the casserole sit for about 5 minutes after baking. This makes it easier to cut and serve.
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole, Ree Drummond Broccoli Chicken Rice Casserole
