A creamy blend of chicken, broccoli, cheddar, and rice baked to golden perfection.
# Ingredient List:
→ Proteins
01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Rice & Base
05 - 1½ cups uncooked long grain white rice
06 - 3 cups chicken broth
→ Dairy
07 - 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
08 - 1 cup whole milk
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
→ Canned & Condiments
10 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
→ Spices & Seasonings
11 - ½ teaspoon salt
12 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional)
14 - ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
→ Topping (optional)
15 - ½ cup breadcrumbs
16 - 1 tablespoon melted butter
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
03 - Add uncooked rice to the skillet with onions and garlic. Stir to coat the grains evenly.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together milk, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme.
05 - Add cooked chicken, broccoli, sautéed rice and onion mixture, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar into the liquid mixture. Stir until combined.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
07 - Sprinkle remaining ½ cup cheddar cheese over the surface.
08 - If desired, mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
09 - Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more until top is golden and bubbly.
11 - Allow to stand 5 minutes before serving.
