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More delicious fall comfort food here 😋!
This dish was inspired after seeing The Cozy Cook’s Broccoli Mac & Cheese – One Pot on Instagram. When I saw the post, I thought, hey I’ve got day old rice and broccoli in my fridge, why not make something similar with a great cheese sauce! Sunday supper is served and boy was it delicious with its crispy topper and creamy goodness!
i hope you enjoy this delicious casserole perfect for Sunday supper or as a side, cheers 🥂!
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Some Notes
- Day old rice is best for casseroles – I prefer day old rice because it keeps prep easy. Two, there’s always leftovers when you have Indian, like we had the day before 😉. However, if you don’t have day old rice, make two cups of long grain rice.
- Fresh broccoli florets – I went with fresh for my casserole. I cut the broccoli in florets and steamed for a few minutes (2-3 mins) and shocked in an ice bath to stop the cooking. You certainly could use frozen broccoli. If you do, I suggest defrosting completely and running it under water and drying the florets with a paper towel to remove any excess liquid.
- Chicken thighs ALL THE WAY – Chicken thighs have more chicken flavor in my opinion and stay moist when you cook them. However, if you prefer chicken breast, have at it.
- Homemade cheese sauce, yes please – The sauce in this recipe is super easy and flavorful. However, if you’re short on time, canned cheese sauce would work, I’d suggest two cans.
- Topper goodness – The panko topper adds some texture to the casserole and is a must in my opinion.
- Bake to perfection – Don’t forget to preheat your oven to 350 degrees. If you want to get the topper extra brown, I’d suggest placing the casserole under the boiler until golden brown.
- Preparing beforehand – You could certainly make this casserole in advance and place in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. I would suggest allowing the casserole to get to room temperature for 1hr before baking at 350 degrees.
- Fall Comfort Foods, nothing better – If you miss my Fall Comfort Food post, make sure you check it out for more delicious recipes!
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
Servings 6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups rice, day old preferred
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- EVOO
- 2 cups chicken
- 2 TBSP butter
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed & chopped
- 2 TBSP flour
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup milk
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated and some extra for topping
- sea salt & ground pepper, for seasoning
Panko Topper
- 1 TBSP butter
- ¼ cup panko
- sea salt & ground pepper, for seasoning
Instructions
- Begin by steaming the broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes. Once steamed, place in a cold water bath until you're ready to combine the ingredients.
- Grab a large nonstick frying pan and warm on medium with a touch of EVOO. Once the oil is warm add the chicken thighs (make sure you season your chicken with salt and pepper 👍). Cook on medium until the chicken is cooked through for the most part and is golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the onion and garlic and cook on low until the onions become translucent.
- Now add the flour and cook out for 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken stock and tempered milk and stir together until thick. Once thick and saucy, add the paprika, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce and cheese. Stir together until the cheese is melted and season with some salt & pepper. Set aside until you're ready to combine the ingredients.
- Meanwhile, cut up the chicken into bite sized pieces.
- Drain the broccoli florets and dry with a paper towel.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and add the rice, broccoli florets and the cheese sauce.
- Mix together until well combined.
- Grease a 9x13 casserole dish with butter and add the casserole ingredients to the dish. Smooth out evenly.
- Meanwhile, make the panko topper by melting the butter and combining the panko with a pinch of salt & pepper. Place the topper on top with a sprinkle of cheese.
- Bake in an oven that's been preheated to 350 degrees and cook for 45 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy, cheers 🥂!
