Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a one-pan recipe that is comforting and flavorful! Tender pieces of chicken are sautéd until golden brown, and simmered in a creamy sauce with vibrant broccoli florets, rice and herbs. Topped with shredded cheese and baked until bubbly, this casserole is sure to be a family favorite!
This post and recipe is sponsored by Smart Chicken. All words and photographs are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make KJ & Company possible!
What Sets Smart Chicken Apart
Ok, listen up, if you’re purchasing chicken, it needs to be Smart Chicken! And that’s something that I don’t even have to be paid to say! My family and I have been using and cooking with Smart Chicken for YEARS. Literally: it’s all my Grandma and Mom will use, and now me! We can even go as far as saying that we have family friends who were farmers for Smart Chicken. I can remember watching my Mom in the kitchen unwrap the chicken with the classic blue packaging growing up, or my Grandma sharing with all of us when she found a grocery store when it went on sale. To say it’s a family favorite is an understatement.
So, what does set Smart Chicken apart? Let me tell you!
Air Chilled:
Did you know that other chicken companies submerge the chicken in a water bath solution to chill the meat? And that the meat absorbs 8-12% of that liquid? No thank you! Smart Chicken goes above and beyond to pay extra attention to detail by using a 100% Air-Chilled Process. That means the end result is a pure product that has exceptional taste, texture and quality without any yucky stuff added. You can read more about their process here!
No Antibiotics:
Want to know what else is great? NO antibiotics are ever added! Here’s what they have to say about the matter:
“Smart Chicken® has never changed its position on antibiotics; the company does not administer antibiotics to chickens that become Smart Chicken and never has. Antibiotics are simply not part of our equation for producing wholesome, high-quality chicken and, in line with that philosophy, all Smart Chicken products are USDA Process Verified no antibiotics ever.”
How great is that?! They have a wealth of knowledge if you want to read more about their commitments to creating the highest-quality products that they can.
All in all, Smart Chicken is the only way to go!
What Cut of Chicken to Use
There are several Smart Chicken products that work wonderfully for this recipe. So, how to choose? First off, decide what kind of chicken meat you prefer: dark or white. If white chicken meat is what you want, then go with either boneless, skinless chicken tenders or breasts. Or, if dark meat is preferred, go with boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
Either option you choose, the chicken will be cut into 1-inch pieces. The result will be perfect bite-size pieces of chicken that brown up wonderfully and stand out in the casserole.
Rice Options
The recipe calls for a couple cups of cooked rice, either brown or white. Now, with that being said, there’s several ways to go with the rice options!
- Stovetop rice – cook the rice according to the package instructions until fluffy. White or brown rice can be used for this option. Keep in mind that brown rice will take longer to cook.
- Microwavable rice – cook the rice according to the package instructions. This option will be much quicker than the stovetop option.
Cooking the rice before adding it into the casserole is an easy way to ensure that it is cooked through. Not only that, cooked rice won’t absorb as much liquid as uncooked rice would, which means that it won’t dry the casserole out! And we don’t want any dried out casseroles around here!
Casseroles are an easy way to get dinner on the table and fill the house with comfort. If you ask me, one topped with cheese and loaded full of chicken, vegetables and rice is the way to go! A one-pan dinner recipe to go straight from the oven to the table.
Looking for other recipes that use Smart Chicken? Check these out!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a one-pan recipe that is comforting and flavorful! Tender pieces of chicken are sautéd until golden brown, and simmered in a creamy sauce with vibrant broccoli florets, rice and herbs. Topped with shredded cheese and baked until bubbly, this casserole is sure to be a family favorite!
Ingredients
- 1 pound Smart Chicken Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Tenders, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 1/2 cups Smart Chicken Organic Classic Chicken Bone Broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups brown rice, cooked
- 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into 1or 2-inch pieces
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add in the chicken pieces and sauté until golden brown on all sides, about 5-8 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and add in the onion and garlic. Sauté for a couple minutes more until slightly translucent. Add in the butter and melt, then add in the flour and stir to create a paste-like consistency.
- Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream and stir to combine. Pour in the bone broth, thyme and salt and stir to combine. Allow to simmer on low for a couple minutes to thicken the sauce slightly.
- Add the chicken back into the pan along with the cooked rice, broccoli florets and 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese. Gently toss to coat and combine.
- Arrange the remaining cheese on top of the casserole in an even layer and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly. Enjoy!
Notes
- If dark meat is preferred, Smart Chicken Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs can be used instead.
- Pre-cook the rice by either doing so on the stovetop or using microwavable rice. Brown or white rice can be used.
- If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, transfer the casserole ingredients to a 9×13 pan prior to sprinkling with cheese and baking.
- Nutritional information for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 1.3g
- Sodium: 721mg
- Fat: 32.4g
- Carbohydrates: 55.2g
- Fiber: 3.3g
- Protein: 33.6g
- Cholesterol: 141mg
Keywords: Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
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Hi, I’m KJ!
Here you’ll find simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. I strive to make wholesome meals with easy-to-find ingredients that you feel comfortable making in your own kitchen—but I won’t shy away from a few indulgences! (I see you: butter, bacon, cookies!)
