Back in 2009, I was working my first kitchen job and totally botched a chicken broccoli casserole during the busiest night of the week. The broccoli came out gray and mushy, the chicken was dry as sawdust, and my boss let me know exactly how he felt about it. That mess of a dinner taught me more about cooking than any class ever did. I've been tweaking this recipe ever since, testing it on Lina and his picky friends until I got something that actually works. Now it's the one dish I can count on when I need dinner ready fast and everyone happy.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Look, this chicken broccoli casserole and broccoli casserole isn't fancy, but it works. Lina calls it "the cheesy chicken thing" and bugs me to make it whenever his friends sleep over. I like it because I can dump everything together in about 15 minutes, then forget about it while it bakes. The cheese gets bubbly, the chicken stays moist, and - this is key - the broccoli doesn't turn gray like it used to when I first started making this.
What really sold me on this recipe is how it saves my sanity on crazy weeknights. I can prep it Sunday night, stick it in the fridge, and just throw it in the oven Tuesday when everyone's hungry and cranky. Makes tons of leftovers too, which honestly taste better than the first night. Lina actually prefers eating it cold straight from the fridge the next morning, which tells you something about how good this stuff is.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- Ingredients for Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- How To Make Chicken Broccoli Casserole Step By Step
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe Variations
- Substitutions For Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- Storage Tips
- Equipment For Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- How My Neighbor's Dish Became a Household Staple
- Top Tip
- What to Serve With Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- FAQ
- Ready for Easy Dinners!
- Related
- Pairing
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients for Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Main Players:
- Boneless chicken thighs or breasts
- Fresh broccoli crowns
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Cooked white rice
- Chicken broth
Flavor Team:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Black pepper
- Sea salt
- Lemon juice
The Topping:
- Fresh parsley
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- Melted butter
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Chicken Broccoli Casserole Step By Step
Prep Work:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Cook rice until just tender
- Season and cook chicken thoroughly
- Blanch broccoli for 2 minutes exactly
- Shred both cheeses
Create the Base:
- Mix sour cream and mayonnaise
- Add garlic powder and seasonings
- Stir in half the cheddar
- Add splash of chicken broth
- Taste and adjust
Assembly Time:
- Layer rice in buttered 9x13 dish
- Add chicken pieces evenly
- Scatter blanched broccoli
- Pour cheese mixture over everything
- Top with remaining cheeses
The Finishing Touch:
- Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly
- Mix panko with melted butter
- Sprinkle over casserole
- Add Parmesan for extra flavor
Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe Variations
Bacon Style:
- Crispy bacon pieces
- Bacon fat for topping
- Extra sharp cheddar
- Black pepper boost
Mexican Style:
- Diced green chiles
- Pepper jack cheese
- Taco seasoning packet
- Tortilla chip topping
Mushroom Style:
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Swiss cheese
- Fresh thyme
- White wine splash
Veggie-Loaded:
- Bell peppers
- Sweet corn
- Zucchini chunks
- Carrot pieces
Substitutions For Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Chicken Options:
- Rotisserie → Ground turkey
- Fresh chicken → Canned chicken
- Chicken breasts → Leftover turkey
- Raw chicken → Cooked pork, chopped
Cheese Swaps:
- Cheddar → Swiss cheese
- Mozzarella → Pepper jack
- Sharp cheddar → Mild cheddar
- Regular cheese → Whatever's going bad
Dairy Alternatives:
- Sour cream → Greek yogurt
- Mayo → More chicken broth
- Heavy cream → Coconut cream
- Butter → Olive oil
Rice Substitutes:
- White rice → Cauliflower rice
- Cooked rice → Egg noodles
- Regular rice → Quinoa
- Rice → Nothing (just more veggies)
Storage Tips
In the Fridge (3-4 days):
- Let it cool down first
- Cover with foil or plastic wrap
- Reheat at 325°F with some foil on top
- Add a splash of milk if it looks dry
Freezer (2-3 months):
- Cool it down all the way
- Wrap it tight with foil
- Write the date on it
- Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating
Make-Ahead:
- Put it together without baking
- Cover and stick in the fridge for up to a day
- Add 10 minutes to the baking time if it's cold
Equipment For Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
- 9x13 baking dish
- Big mixing bowl
- Measuring cups
- Wooden spoon
- Cheese grater
How My Neighbor's Dish Became a Household Staple
My neighbor brought this casserole over when Lina was sick with the flu a few years back. I was beat from staying up with him all night, and wasn't expecting much from some casserole. But Lina ate two helpings even with a fever, which never happens when he's sick. The broccoli wasn't mushy, the chicken broccoli casserole wasn't dry, and there was this bit of lemon that made everything taste good.
Her trick was adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the creamy mixture and using both sharp and mild cheddar instead of just one type. She also told me to undercook the chicken broccoli casserolea little because it keeps cooking in the oven. "Nobody wants rubbery chicken," she said, and she was right. Now I make this at least twice a month, and Lina still asks if we can invite her over for dinner whenever I'm making it.
Top Tip
- Remember what my neighbor said - nobody wants rubbery chicken. The trick is to undercook your chicken broccoli casserole just a little bit before you add it to the casserole because it's going to keep cooking in the oven for another 25-30 minutes. I learned this the hard way after serving Lina and his friends chicken that was so tough they could barely chew it. Now I always pull the chicken off the heat when it's about 80% done, and it comes out tender and juicy every time.
- The other thing that really makes a difference is not overbaking the whole casserole. I used to think more time in the oven meant better results, but that just dried everything out. When the edges start bubbling and the top turns golden brown, it's done - don't keep going just because the timer hasn't gone off yet. Trust me, this one tip will save you from a lot of disappointed faces at the dinner table, and your family will actually look forward to casserole night instead of dreading it.Retry
What to Serve With Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
This casserole is pretty filling on its own, but sometimes you want a little something extra. For regular weeknights, I usually just throw together a simple green salad or grab some frozen garlic bread. Lina always wants bread with this, so I keep the easy stuff around - dinner rolls, biscuits from a can, whatever's on sale. If we're having corn on the cob or green beans, those work great too.
When I'm having people over, I might do a Caesar salad with croutons or roast some asparagus to make it look like I tried harder. But honestly, this casserole is hearty enough that you don't need much else. A basic fruit salad or some carrot sticks with ranch keep the kids happy, and that's usually all you need. The key is keeping it simple so you're not stressed about making ten different things.
FAQ
Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
I tried this once and it was a watery mess. Frozen broccoli releases too much water and makes everything soggy. Fresh broccoli that you cook for 2 minutes stays good and keeps its color. Don't do it.
How do I keep the chicken broccoli casserole from drying out?
Don't cook the chicken all the way before adding it to the casserole. It keeps cooking in the oven, so if you start with cooked chicken, it'll be rubbery. Also, don't cook the whole thing too long.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yeah, you can put it together the night before and just bake it when you need it. Add about 10 minutes to the baking time if it's coming straight from the fridge.
What's the good cheese to use?
I like a mix of sharp cheddar and mozzarella. The cheddar gives it flavor and the mozzarella makes it creamy. You can use whatever cheese you have, but avoid the pre-shredded stuff if you can - it doesn't melt as well.
Ready for Easy Dinners!
There you have it - my chicken broccoli casserole that's saved my butt more times than I can count. It's not fancy, but it works, and Lina eats it without whining. The good part is you can prep it Sunday and have dinner ready Tuesday with barely any work.
Try our Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe that's just as easy, our Campbell Green Bean Casserole Recipe that goes with everything, or our chicken broccoli casserole for when you want something different!
Show off your casserole creations! We can’t wait to see what you’re cooking up!
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Pairing
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Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook rice until just tender.
- Cook chicken, then chop it into pieces.
- Blanch broccoli for 2 minutes.
- Shred both cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
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