Today’s post has to be one of my favorite recipes I’m sharing! It’s the perfect, easy weeknight meal, or meal to take and bake to get togethers. I wish I could take the credit for this delicious casserole, but my best friend actually brought this over for us to have when Remi was born, and we’ve been hooked ever since.

Chicken, Rice, and Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 tbs butter
• 2 boneless & skinless chicken breasts or 2 cups of a rotisserie chicken
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 1 1/4 cup of rice (I like long grain) make sure it’s uncooked
• 2 cups fresh broccoli also uncooked
• 10.5 oz can of cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I use cheddar)
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup ritz crackers crushed
• 2 tbs melted butter

Directions:

1. Cut your chicken into bite sized pieces and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
2. In a large pot on medium high heat, add 2 tbs butter and your seasoned chicken. Cook until brown (about 5 minutes). Remove your chicken and set aside (If you’re using rotisserie chicken then skip this step).
3. In that same pot, add your olive oil, chicken broth, and rice. Bring that to a boil.
4. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer and cover, cooking for 7 minutes.
5. Add the broccoli and cook covered for an additional 8 minutes. Do not stir.
6. Turn off the heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Don’t stir yet, once the rice has set the 10 minutes it will release from the bottom so there should be no sticking.
7. Add your cooked chicken, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, seasonings, half of cheese, and stir til combined.
8. Grease a 9×13 baking dish, and add your mixture. Top with the remaining cup of cheese. I also like to add salt and pepper before baking.
9. Cover and bake for 15 minutes.
10. Mix your melted butter and crackers and sprinkle topping over your casserole.
11. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, uncovered.
12. Once finished, let stand for 5 minutes and then enjoy!

I hope y’all like this easy meal as much as we do! It doesn’t last long at our house, that’s for sure. This casserole is kinda similar to my Poppyseed Chicken Casserole recipe, both are simple and so good!

xo Dariane