Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is the healthy, cheesy, and easy recipe that will please everyone at your table. The flavors are simple and appealing, the prep is easy, and unlike many other casserole recipes, this casserole contains NO SOUP!
Crowd-pleasing dishes like chicken broccoli rice casserole (and its cousins, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Broccoli Quinoa Casserole, and Cheesy Corn Quinoa Casserole with Chicken) were a fixture at our table growing up.
My mom was the casserole QUEEN. She wore a crown of Pyrex and carried a scepter of nonstick baking spray.
Not only could she make a casserole from scratch, but she could transform any (and I mean any) leftover in our home into a creamy, cheesy casserole of sorts.
A mix of brown rice, quickly sautรฉed chicken, and fresh broccoli, this casserole offers every food group in a single meal. There is no soup to be found (cream of, canned, or otherwise).
Instead, the smooth, bubbly cheese sauce is made with Greek yogurt and cheddar, just like in this Chicken and Rice Casserole.
This casserole recipe is easy to scale up to feed a crowd and to make and freeze ahead (it’s a favorite meal to give to new mothers among our fries).
It saves and reheats like a dream, making it an ideal option for healthy lunches and dinners throughout the week.
5 Star Review
โI never review recipes but this one is AMAZING!!! It tastes just like the cheesy broccoli rice my mom makes for holidays only, but with significantly less calories! Added to my favorites!โ
— Paige —
How to Make Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This chicken broccoli rice casserole wins the casserole gold star for its easy prep, ability to be reheated, homey flavor, and undeniably addictive cheesy goodness.
It’s filling and comforting while boasting a wholesome ingredients list.
The Ingredients
- Instant Brown Rice. To keep this recipe quick and simple, you do have to briefly cook the instant rice before putting it in the casserole. I chose to use brown rice for its added fiber.
- Chicken Breasts. Lean chicken breast keeps this casserole on the lighter side while still adding filling protein. While you can put raw chicken in a casserole, we’re going to sautรฉ it first for this recipe to make sure it cooks through.
- Broccoli Florets. Packed with fiber and vitamins, broccoli is a powerhouse casserole ingredient. Once baked with the chicken and cheesy sauce, even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy this green veggie.
- Spices. A simple blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder adds approachable seasoning to this casserole.
- All-Purpose Flour + Milk + Greek Yogurt. Instead of less nutritious canned soups, a mixture of flour, milk, and yogurt creates the base for this casserole’s creamy, luscious sauce.
- Dijon Mustard. Adds tanginess and helps enhance the cheesy flavor.
- Cheddar Cheese. Sharp cheddar is my favorite, because a little goes a long way. It’s bold, beloved, and a perfect pairing with the broccoli.
The Directions
- Boil the stock, then add the rice and broccoli. Remove the pot from the heat, and let sit.
- Sautรฉ the chicken.
- Cook the sauce, then stir in the Dijon and remaining seasonings. Add the yogurt and cheese.
- Stir it all together.
- Transfer to a baking dish, and top with the remaining cheese. Bake the chicken broccoli rice casserole at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes.
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate casserole in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F.
- To Freeze. Freeze casserole in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. You can freeze this either before or after baking it. Be sure your dish is freezer safe.
Meal Plan Tip
Chop the broccoli up to 1 day in advance, and refrigerate it in an airtight storage container.
What to Serve with Broccoli Casserole
Recommended Tools to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
- Baking Dish. Perfect for making this casserole.
- Measuring Spoons. These double-sided spoons are magnetic for easy storage.
- Measuring Cup. Microwave-safe and dishwasher-safe.
The Best Baking Dish
This beautiful and high-quality baking dish is ideal for casseroles. It will last you a lifetime!
Could I be dubbed the Queen of Casseroles one day? Aside from the weird premonitions of becoming my mother, I’ll take the casserole-queen title with compliments.
Please pass me my Pyrex crown.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups low-sodium chickenย stock
- 2 cups instant brown rice if you use white rice or non-instant rice, the cooking time and amount of liquid needed may differ
- 1 pound broccoli florets chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped into bite-size pieces
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder divided
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper divided
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk divided (I used skim)
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 cups reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese divided (about 6 ounces)
Instructions
- Place a rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a deep 9-inch-square baking dish or a 3-quart casserole dish.
- Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a large pot, then add the rice. Return to a boil, add the broccoli to the top of the rice (no need to stir it together), then cover, reduce the heat to low, and let cook 5 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and let sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. Most of the rice liquid should be absorbed.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven or other large deep pot over medium-high. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Sautรฉ until cooked through and no longer pink in the center, about 4 to 6 minutes, then remove to a plate. Being careful not to burn yourself, wipe the pot clean with a paper towel.
- Reduce the heat to medium. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the flour and 1/2 cup milk. Pour the mixture into the pot, then add the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the Dijon, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir in the Greek yogurt and 1 cup of the shredded cheese until smooth.
- Add the rice and broccoli mixture and the reserved chicken to the cheese sauce, stirring gently to coat.
- Spoon the mixture into the prepared dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake 25 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes, then serve.
Nutrition
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Would it be alright to leave the chicken out? If so, are there other adjustments I should make? Thank you.
Hi Janet! I’ve only tested the recipe as written, so it would be hard for me to say, but you likely could leave it out and just add all of the seasonings in step 4. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!
Made with white minute rice
Iโve made it at least three times now! Love it
Just have to cook in oven a little longer than listed since it has some extra moisture and also because I use a cast iron deep Dutch oven style pan to bake in
Also I topped with sliced fresh baby Bella mushrooms! Yum!
Hi Jessica! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
My family loves this, and no one realizes it is a lower calorie version. I made it as written the first 2 times, then started to experiment. It lends itself to endless variations. I have increased the broccoli, sautรฉed onions and mushrooms, and subbed out fresh grated parmesan for part of the cheddar. I have added chopped kale. You can sub green beans for the broccoli, or add chopped cauliflower. I still use a green veggie with the cauliflower, otherwise it is too “white”. I have done this with cubed pork tenderloin when I didn’t have chicken. It is all good. Thank you for such a yummy, healthy, and versatile recipe!
Hi! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review and feedback on modifications!
The rice was dry and broccoli undercooked in my attempt at this recipe. Flavors not bad, but definitely needed better ratios of liquids to dry ingredients and separately cooked broccoli.
Iโm so sorry you had trouble with this recipe, Karen. Itโs hard to say what went wrong without being in the kitchen with you.
I know itโs frustrating to try a new recipe and not have it turn out. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed them, so I really wish they wouldโve been a hit for you too!
This recipe in going to be on my regular dinner rotation now!
Quick, nutritious, and delicious!! My kids love it and I love having enough for leftovers too! The sauce is fabulous and love the seasoning she uses- makes the dinner taste good without being too much especially for children.
Iโve made other recipes of Erins before so I knew this was going to be a win!
Hi Janine! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was a winner on a dark December evening in Winnipeg. I changed up a few things – used skinless chicken thighs because that’s what I had in the freezer (also, I prefer thighs), didn’t have instant rice so just cooked some regular brown rice from scratch, and steamed the broccoli on it’s own. I then followed the recipe pretty much to the tee. Will make this again, but maybe mess around a bit. A teaspoon of curry powder in the roux? A couple handfuls of chopped spinach? Shredded carrot? Possibilities are endless.
Hi Tim! Yes the possibilities ARE endless! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Does it retain the tangy flavor from the Greek yogurt? Can regular plain yogurt be substituted?
Hi Lauren! In my opinion it does not retain any tangy flavor from the Greek yogurt, but you could also try using regular, whole milk yogurt. Hope you enjoy it!
Do you think I can use almond milk for this recipe? I want to make this for my daughter but I try to avoid giving her too much dairy.
Hi Nas! Yes, you can try experimenting with a non-dairy milk such as unsweetened almond milk. Hope you enjoy it!