This cheesy chicken and rice bake is an easy, creamy chicken and rice casserole made with tender chicken, fluffy rice, broccoli, and melty cheese.
It’s one of those cozy dinners I make when I want something simple, filling, and guaranteed to make everyone happy. No canned soup, just a homemade creamy sauce that tastes so much better.
If you’re looking for a broccoli chicken rice casserole that’s easy and family-friendly, this one is a keeper.
In this post
- How To Make Chicken And Rice Casserole
- Ingredients
- Expert Tips
- Storage
- FAQ
Why This Recipe Works
- Pre-cooked rice keeps the texture perfect. No mushy or undercooked grains.
- Homemade sauce tastes better. No canned soup needed.
- Simple ingredients. Everything is easy to find.
- Family-friendly flavors. Creamy, cheesy, and comforting.
🛒Ingredients
- Cooked chicken – use fresh chicken breast or thighs, or rotisserie for a shortcut.
- Rice – always cook before baking for best texture. White or brown both work.
- Broccoli – fresh or frozen, no need to pre-cook.
- Cheese – cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, or any melty cheese.
- Onion – adds depth and flavor to the sauce.
- Flour – helps thicken the creamy sauce.
- Milk – creates a smooth, creamy base.
- Seasonings – salt, black pepper, and spices for balance.
👉 Optional toppings:
Breadcrumbs, panko, crushed Ritz crackers, or crispy onions for crunch.
🥘 How To Make Chicken And Rice Bake
- Cook the rice – prepare according to package instructions and set aside.
- Prep broccoli – wash and cut into small florets.
- Preheat oven – to 400°F and grease a baking dish.
- Cook the chicken – sear in a skillet for 5 to 6 minutes, then set aside.
- Make the sauce – sauté onion, add flour, then slowly whisk in milk until smooth. Add seasoning and simmer until thickened. Stir in cheese.
- Combine – mix rice, chicken, broccoli, and sauce together.
- Assemble – transfer to baking dish and top with more cheese.
- Bake – for 20 to 25 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Rest and serve – let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Rita's Tip
Cook the rice in chicken broth instead of water for extra flavor. It makes a big difference in this casserole.
❌ Common Mistakes
- Using uncooked rice. It can turn mushy or cook unevenly.
- Overcooking broccoli. It will lose texture and become too soft.
- Using high heat for the sauce. This can make it separate.
- Not seasoning enough. The casserole can taste bland without proper seasoning.
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Buy Now → 📋 Tips For The Best Chicken And Rice Casserole
- Use rotisserie chicken. It saves time and adds extra flavor.
- Cook rice in broth. This boosts flavor without extra effort.
- Don’t overbake. Overbaking can dry out the casserole.
- Add extra cheese on top. This creates a golden, bubbly crust.
- Let it rest before serving. This helps the casserole set properly.
- Cut broccoli small. Smaller pieces cook evenly and blend better.
- Use freshly grated cheese. It melts smoother than pre-shredded.
- Add toppings last. Breadcrumbs or crackers should go on before baking.
- Make it ahead. Prep everything and bake when ready.
- Adjust consistency. Add a splash of milk if it feels too thick.
Storage Instructions
Please note that the casserole will taste the best on the day of making or within 24 hours.
- 🍱To Store. Store the cooled casserole covered tightly in plastic wrap. Or divide into smaller portions and store in individual airtight containers for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
- 🥶Freezing leftovers. Let the casserole cool, and transfer it into a freezer-friendly airtight container. Or freeze individual portions. Freeze for up to 2-3 months and thaw overnight in the fridge. Bake until warmed through. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave.
- 🔥Make ahead. Follow the recipe until baking instructions, cover with foil or plastic wrap, and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Bake as directed.
👪Serving Suggestions
This casserole is filling on its own, but you can serve it with:
- Green beans or corn salad
- Cucumber salad
- simple slaw
- Roasted vegetables
- Dinner rolls, garlic bread, crusty bread or cornbread muffins
Easy Chicken Recipes
📖Recipe
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake With Broccoli (No Canned Soup)
This Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake has it all - tender chunks of chicken nestled amongst perfectly cooked rice, vibrant green broccoli and topped with melty cheese. Similar to Chicken Divan, this dish is creamy and has hearty flavors but without added cream of soup.
Ingredients
For Chicken Casserole
- 1 pound chicken breasts cut into bite-sized smaller pieces
- 2 cups brown rice cooked or white rice
- 4 ½ cups fresh broccoli cut into small florets
For Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded and divided
- 2 tablespoon curly parsley freshly chopped to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare an 8x11 casserole dish by greasing lightly with olive oil or butter.
- In a large skillet, over medium-high heat add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and sear the chicken for about 5-6 minutes. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining cooking oil. And once hot, saute the onion until it starts to get brown.
- Add in the flour and whisk quickly for about a minute or so.
- In batches, stir in milk, continuously whisking. When all the milk is added, add in the spices and season with salt and black pepper.
- Simmer the mixture on low heat until it thickens. Stir every once in a while. Remove from the heat and add 1-½ cup of cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and incorporated into the mixture.
- In a large bowl or right in the prepared casserole dish, mix rice, broccoli, chicken, and sauce.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cups cheese on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve while the casserole is still warm and the cheese melty.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Love casseroles? We love a good comforting dish, from our Alfredo Pasta Bake, Stuffed Zucchinis, to readers favorite Ritz Casserole. And this cheesy chicken and rice bake is sure to become your favorite too!
FAQs
Do you cook rice before adding it to casserole?
Yes. Always cook the rice first to avoid mushy or uneven texture.
What cheese works best?
Cheddar is most popular, but mozzarella, gouda, or Monterey Jack also work well.
Can I freeze chicken and rice casserole?
Yes. Freeze for up to 2 to 3 months and thaw overnight before reheating.
Does broccoli need to be cooked first?
No. It cooks perfectly in the oven while baking.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. It’s a great shortcut and adds extra flavor.
Rita
Enjy a delicious homemade meal that is bursting with flavors of cheesy chicken, rice and broccoli!
Peggy
Hi Rita. Loved the Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake (no canned soup) I had broth (pot liquor) left from cooking our corned beef and used it to pre-cook the brown rice so I added no salt. I used canned chicken. I liked making the roux instead of adding soup. I just came across the recipe today and it looked so easy and I had all the ingredients. I also subscribed. I see other recipes here that I will enjoy making. Thank you. This is a keeper.
Rita
Thank you Peggy, homemade roux is the best, and healthier than canned soup. Thank you for signing up for the newsletter, welcome!
jdw
Very tasty casserole. It has nice flavor compared to similar casseroles that I've made. I made it with long grain brown rice. It turned out great. I will try it with the bread crumb topping next time.
Rita
thank you so much, glad you liked it