American · Dinner

Chicken broccoli rice casserole

Name: Chicken broccoli rice casserole
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 4 cups small broccoli florets; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided; 1 small yellow onion, finely diced; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, warmed; 1 cup whole milk, warmed; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 3 cups cooked long-grain rice, cooled; 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, divided; 1 cup crushed buttery crackers

A creamy scratch casserole of roasted chicken, fluffy rice, bright blanched broccoli, and sharp cheddar with a buttery cracker-crumb top.

About 1 hr 30 minTotal

About 1 hr 20 minActive

$$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 8 servings

Equipment

Use another light-colored 9 × 13-inch metal pan and begin checking browning early.
Best metal 9-by-13 pan
USA Pan 9-by-13-Inch Rectangular Baking Pan · 1110RC
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use another light-colored 9 × 13-inch metal pan and begin checking browning early.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched exact interior dimensions and metal heat behavior, then checked material, maximum temperature, coating care, stable model identity, and retail destination. Kwilt has not baked with this pan.
USA Pan 9-by-13-Inch Rectangular Baking Pan · 1110RC: The exact 9-by-13-inch baking surface and aluminized-steel construction match recipes whose dough depth and bottom browning depend on a standard metal pan. Trade-off: The nonstick surface calls for hand washing and nonmetal tools, and efficient heat conduction can brown faster than glass.
Another workable path: Use another light-colored 9-by-13-inch metal pan; glass changes heat behavior and is not an equal substitute for every high-heat bread method.
Sources
USA Pan 1110RC specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 8 servings

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cups small broccoli florets
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups low-sodium chicken stock, warmed
1 cup whole milk, warmed
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 cups cooked long-grain rice, cooled
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, divided
1 cup crushed buttery crackers

Instructions

Season chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper, rub with oil, and roast at 425°F until 165°F, 18 to 22 minutes. Rest 10 minutes and dice. Blanch broccoli in boiling water 2 minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a wide saucepan. Cook onion until soft, add garlic for 30 seconds, then flour for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in stock and milk; simmer until lightly thickened. Add Dijon and remaining salt.
Remove sauce from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups cheddar. Fold with rice, chicken, and broccoli. Butter a with 1 tablespoon butter, add the mixture, and top with remaining cheddar.
Melt remaining butter and mix with cracker crumbs. Scatter over casserole and bake at 375°F until bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

United StatesAmerican home-cooking traditions

From the table

About this recipe

Chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is a modern American family-meal format shaped by convenience cooking; this scratch-sauce version keeps the recognizable combination while separately cooking the chicken, rice, and broccoli for more reliable texture.

This is an American family casserole, not chicken Divan. Its defining combination is chicken, broccoli, rice, creamy sauce, and cheddar. Cooking and drying each component first makes the final bake predictable and avoids raw rice, watery broccoli, and salty canned-soup sauce. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Retain the beloved five-part casserole identity while directly correcting the most common reader complaints with pre-cooked dry components and a low-sodium scratch sauce.

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