Welcome to the ultimate comfort food experience! This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is everything you love about the classic dish—creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor—but with one major upgrade: it’s made entirely from scratch. We’re skipping the canned soup to create a rich, velvety cheese sauce that makes this recipe a true standout. It’s the perfect one-pan meal for a busy weeknight that tastes like a weekend specialty.
Forget the grainy texture and artificial taste of condensed soups. With just a few extra minutes and simple pantry staples, you can create a sauce that is luxuriously smooth and delicious. This recipe is designed for the enthusiastic home cook who wants incredible flavor without complicated steps.
Why This is the BEST Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
In a world of quick fixes, this from-scratch Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe proves that a little effort goes a long way. The difference in taste and texture is simply undeniable.
No Canned Soup: The homemade cream sauce is the star. Made with butter, flour, milk, and chicken broth, it’s fresh, flavorful, and free of preservatives.
Perfectly Textured: We use long-grain white rice and fresh broccoli florets, ensuring every bite has the perfect consistency—no mushiness allowed!
Incredibly Cheesy: A generous amount of sharp cheddar cheese is melted into the sauce and sprinkled on top, creating a gooey interior and a golden, bubbly crust.
Weeknight Friendly: Despite being from scratch, this recipe comes together quickly, especially if you use leftover or rotisserie chicken.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe relies on simple, wholesome ingredients to create its signature flavor. Here’s what you’ll need to gather.
For the Casserole
Chicken: Cooked and shredded. A rotisserie chicken is a fantastic time-saver.
Rice: Long-grain white rice provides the best texture.
Broccoli: Fresh florets are ideal, but thawed frozen broccoli works well too.
Onion & Garlic: These aromatics build the foundational flavor of the dish.
For the From-Scratch Cream Sauce
Butter: The base of our roux, providing richness.
All-Purpose Flour: This thickens the sauce beautifully.
Milk & Chicken Broth: The combination creates a sauce that’s both creamy and savory.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Freshly grated cheese melts much better than pre-shredded varieties.
Seasoning: A simple mix of salt, black pepper, and garlic powder is all you need.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to create a perfect Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole every single time.
Preheat and Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Cook the Rice: Cook the long-grain white rice according to package directions until it is just slightly underdone. It will finish cooking in the oven.
Sauté Aromatics: While the rice cooks, melt butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Make the Roux: Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic. Whisk constantly for one minute to cook out the raw flour taste.
Create the Cream Sauce: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Once smooth, slowly whisk in the milk. Let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes until it has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Melt the Cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat. Gradually stir in 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese until completely melted and smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Combine Everything: To the skillet with the cheese sauce, add the cooked rice, shredded chicken, and broccoli florets. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated in the creamy sauce.
Assemble and Bake: Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese on top.
Bake to Perfection: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and golden brown. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Simple ingredients, extraordinary flavor. That's the secret to our recipe.
Tips for Casserole Success
A few simple tricks can elevate your Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole from great to absolutely unforgettable.
Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make your sauce grainy. Grating a block of sharp cheddar by hand will give you the smoothest, meltiest results.
Don’t Overcook the Rice: Cook the rice until it’s al dente (still has a slight bite). It will absorb more liquid and finish cooking in the oven, resulting in a perfect texture.
Use Fresh Broccoli: For the best flavor and texture, use fresh broccoli florets. If you use frozen, make sure to thaw it completely and pat it dry to remove excess water.
Delicious Variations to Try
While this classic recipe is fantastic as is, it’s also a great canvas for customization. Here are a few ideas to make it your own.
Ingredient Swaps & Add-ins
Add a Crunchy Topping: Sprinkle a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter over the cheese before baking for a delightful crunch.
Introduce More Veggies: Sautéed mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers can be stirred in with the chicken and broccoli.
Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the cheese sauce for a little kick.
Bacon Makes Everything Better: Stir in some crispy, crumbled bacon for a smoky, salty flavor boost. If you’re looking for more comfort food, why not try this creamy mac and cheese next?
Look at that creamy, cheesy texture! Every bite is pure comfort.
Make-Ahead and Storage Guide
This casserole is a perfect candidate for meal prep. Here’s how to store it for later.
Make-Ahead: You can assemble the entire casserole without baking it. Cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the cooking time.
Freezing: Assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish but do not bake. Cover tightly with both plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
Reheating: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or cover the baking dish with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
What to Serve with Your Casserole
This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with a few simple sides. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette offers a fresh contrast to the creamy casserole. For something heartier, a side of quick dinner rolls is perfect for soaking up any extra cheese sauce. Or, round out your meal with another delicious option like this rich butter chicken (coming soon).
Yes! You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time when cooking from cold.
For best results, freeze it unbaked. Assemble the casserole in a freezer-safe dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
A long-grain white rice works best as it holds its shape and texture well during baking. Avoid using instant or quick-cook rice, which can become mushy. Brown rice can be used, but you will need to adjust its initial cooking time.
Absolutely. For best results, thaw the frozen broccoli florets completely and pat them very dry with a paper towel to remove as much excess moisture as possible before adding them to the casserole.
This recipe is specifically designed to be made without canned soup! It uses a simple, homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, milk, and chicken broth, which provides a much richer and fresher flavor.
The Ultimate Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe
FL Recipes
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole (Easy & From Scratch!)
This easy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is made completely from scratch with a creamy, cheesy sauce—no canned soup! It's the ultimate comfort food dinner perfect for any night of the week.
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cook the rice according to package directions until slightly underdone. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the diced onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
Sprinkle the flour over the onions and whisk for 1 minute to form a roux.
Slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking constantly until smooth. Then, slowly whisk in the milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Add the cooked rice, shredded chicken, and broccoli florets to the skillet and stir to combine everything evenly.
Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the casserole is hot and bubbly and the top is golden brown. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 450kcalProtein: 28gFat: 25gFiber: 3g
Notes
Tip 1: For the creamiest sauce, use freshly grated cheese. Pre-shredded cheese can make the sauce gritty. Tip 2: Don't overcook the rice initially; it will continue to cook in the oven and absorb the sauce. Tip 3: Using a rotisserie chicken is a great way to save time on prep.
The ultimate comfort food: our from-scratch Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole!
More Heartwarming Dinners to Explore
If you loved this easy from-scratch casserole, you’re sure to enjoy exploring more of our comforting dinner recipes. Creating delicious, memorable meals for your family is what we’re all about! We hope this Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole becomes a new favorite in your rotation. If you make it, please leave a comment below or share a photo of your creation on Pinterest. We love seeing what you cook up!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
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