Description
Hearty one pot cheesy chicken broccoli rice bake delivers comfort on cold nights. Creamy cheese sauce, tender chicken, and nutritious broccoli combine for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken fillets, cut into small cubes
- 10 oz (1 can) cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups (480 ml) low sodium chicken broth
- ¾ cup (150 g) rice, uncooked
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup (100 g) cheddar cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté Protein: Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium temperature. Drizzle olive oil and combine diced onions with chicken cubes. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until chicken turns golden and fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper.
- Build Base Layer: Add minced garlic and quickly introduce uncooked long-grain rice, condensed cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth. Bring mixture to a robust boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 15-18 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent rice from sticking.
- Incorporate Vegetables: Gently fold broccoli florets into the partially cooked rice mixture. Sprinkle half the cheddar cheese throughout, stirring to distribute evenly. Allow broccoli to soften slightly and cheese to melt.
- Cheese Finish: Top the dish with remaining cheddar cheese, creating an even layer. Transfer skillet to broiler for 2-3 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve a perfectly golden and bubbly cheese crust.
- Serve and Garnish: Remove from heat and let dish rest for 2-3 minutes. Elegantly scatter freshly chopped parsley across the surface. Serve immediately while cheese remains irresistibly melted and appetizing.
Notes
- Skillet Selection: Use a large, oven-proof skillet to ensure seamless stovetop-to-broiler cooking without transferring ingredients.
- Rice Hydration Hack: Watch liquid levels closely during cooking, adding extra broth if rice seems dry to prevent burning and ensure perfectly tender grains.
- Cheese Melting Tip: Monitor broiler carefully to achieve golden, bubbly cheese topping without burning – typically 2-3 minutes with oven door slightly open.
- Protein Perfection: Ensure chicken reaches golden color and loses pink center to guarantee food safety and maximum flavor development during initial sautéing stage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg