Y’all, get ready for the ultimate comfort food that’s as easy as it is delicious! This Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole is the perfect go-to for busy weeknight dinners or laid-back weekend lunches. Creamy, cheesy, and downright cozy, it’s a lifesaver when you need something hearty but simple. Got leftover chicken or rice hanging out in the fridge? Toss them in and let your crockpot work its magic!
First published March 10, 2023. Last updated December 3, 2024 for readability and more information.
Table of Contents
- 🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole.
- Marye's Tip o' the day
- 💭 Insider tips: things to know
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
🗝️ Key takeaways: why this recipe is your new favorite
- Chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is super easy when you make it in a
slow cooker . It's classic casserole-style comfort food with only minutes of prep. - This cheesy recipe is great for potlucks, weeknight dinners, and busy weekends.
- Using Minute rice means the rice cooks perfectly in the
slow cooker - not to much and not too little!
One of the greatest gifts modern technology has given us is the magic of coming home to a warm, comforting meal without lifting a finger after the prep is done. This delicious crockpot chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is slow cooking at its best—a lifesaver for busy moms and the perfect solution for those crazy, nonstop days!
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
One thing I love about
- Try it with thick-cut pork chops or boneless turkey breast.
- You can swap either the cream of chicken soup or the cream of celery with a cream of mushroom soup if you'd like (or need) to. I do that with other recipes like the crock pot chicken and stuffing casserole.
- Out of chicken stock? No problem. Use water and a bouillon cube/paste, or just water if you're really in a pinch.
- Add cauliflower florets along with the broccoli for some variety.
- Stir in some mushrooms and diced onions for a bit more bulk.
- Use any kind of Minute rice you like—white rice, brown rice, long grain, or whatever suits your fancy as long as it's instant rice.
- Swap half of the cheddar with parmesan cheese for a different flavor. You could also use mozzarella cheese instead of cheddar altogether.
- Garnish with some fresh herbs, if you have them! Green onions, dill, and parsley are yummy options for this chicken broccoli casserole.
Next time give this crockpot Hawaiian chicken a try!
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
Stir the chicken broth, soups, and cheese together in a bowl.
In a greased
Shred the chicken and stir it back in along with the Minute rice.
Top with remaining shredded cheddar cheese and let it melt.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
Stir in some pimentos for color... It's similar to pimento cheese!
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🥫 Leftover love: how to store and reheat chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole.
If you have some leftovers, storing them is easy.
Let the extras cool to room temperature before spooning them into an airtight container and refrigerating. For best results, consume within three days.
You can freeze it for up to 3 months if you have to, however the texture can get mushy and unappetizing.
You can quickly reheat leftover cheesy chicken broccoli rice casserole in the microwave. Give it a few 30-second rounds of heat, stirring in between each until it's hot.
On the other hand, if you have a lot left over, feel free to reheat it in the oven. Spoon everything into a casserole dish, cover it tightly with foil, and bake at 350 degrees F until heated through.
Marye's Tip o' the day
Don't swap the uncooked rice for cooked, or it'll get mushy in the crockpot.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Shredded cheese from a block melts much better than the pre-shredded stuff. Use whatever fits your schedule, but for the best cheesy casserole ever, take an extra minute to shred it yourself!
- A whole head of broccoli will stay fresher longer than pre-cut fresh broccoli florets. So, if you're not making this
slow cooker chicken broccoli meal for a few days, I recommend skipping the pre-cut option. - For juicy chicken, start checking the temperature after six hours. Once it reaches 165 degrees F, you can shred it and move on in the recipe.
- Quickly shred the chicken by popping it into your food processor. However, be sure to use the plastic dough attachment, not the metal blade!
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Since frozen broccoli is blanched (partially cooked) before freezing, I don't recommend it in this recipe. It will get mushy and nobody really enjoys mushy vegetables.
Some dairy products like sour cream have a tendency to curdle in the crockpot. Though it's not always the case, I don't recommend using sour cream in this recipe. If you just want a bit of tangy flavor, add a dollop right before serving.
You can! While crockpot chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is safe to eat within three months of freezing, the texture can get a little softer after thawing. Some people don't prefer the texture of instant rice after it's been frozen and thawed.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Pre-cut veggies are a great way to save time!
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
Not only are Maple Roasted Carrots quick and easy to make, but their sweet flavor is the perfect complement to a tender chicken casserole.
Buttermilk biscuits are buttery, pillowy-soft, and the perfect way to make a meal stretch for big families!
Finish off a classic dinner with a fitting dessert—nothing beats the chewy texture and sweet, salty flavor of Peanut Butter Cookies.
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
Transform leftovers into a comforting, cheesy chicken and rice soup by adding some chicken broth and a splash of cream. Heat everything together on the stovetop, and you’ve got a warm, hearty bowl of goodness.
📞 Wrapping it up: the last word
There's something about the combination of broccoli, rice, and chicken in a cheesy sauce that's just so. darn. good!
When it goes together this easily there's no reason not to make it!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Cheesy Crock Pot Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated, divided use
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 10.5 ounces cream of celery soup
- 1 ½ cups chicken stock
- 6 cups broccoli florets, fresh
- 2 pounds chicken breast, boneless/skinless or chicken thighs
- 1 ½ cups uncooked instant white rice, like Minute Rice. Do not use regular rice!
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with no-stick cooking spray.
- Add the broccoli.
- Mix the soups, chicken stock, and 1 ¼ cup of the cheese in a large bowl.
- Spoon over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 6 hours, or until chicken registers 165F.
- Remove chicken and shred with 2 forks.
- Stir in the uncooked rice.
- Stir in the chicken,
- Cover and cook 15 more minutes, or until rice is tender.
- Stir.
- Turn off slow cooker and sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover and let stand 5 minutes.
Notes
- Don't swap the uncooked rice for cooked, or it'll get mushy in the crockpot.
- For juicy chicken, start checking the temperature after six hours. Once it reaches 165 degrees F, you can shred it and move on in the recipe.
- If you are using leftover cooked rice stir it in right at the end.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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Cheesy, Crock Pot Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice Casserole
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