Chicken Broccoli Casserole (Printable)
Creamy baked dish with tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and cheesy topping. Perfect for family dinners and meal prep.
# What you'll need:
→ Proteins
01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
→ Vegetables
02 - 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen, thawed)
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
→ Dairy
04 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
05 - 1 cup sour cream
06 - 1/2 cup milk
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
→ Pantry
08 - 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
09 - 1 cup cooked white rice (optional)
→ Breads/Crumbs
10 - 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
→ Seasonings
11 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/4 tsp paprika
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Steam or blanch broccoli florets for 2–3 minutes until just tender but still bright green. Drain well.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooked chicken, broccoli, onion, 1 cup cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, cooked rice (if using), garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
04 - Spread mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
05 - In a small bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter and paprika.
06 - Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup cheddar cheese over the casserole, then top with the buttered breadcrumbs.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30–35 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown on top.
08 - Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- This is the kind of dinner that actually gets better overnight, making it perfect for those nights when you just want to reheat and relax
- The combination of tender broccoli and savory chicken in that creamy sauce has turned broccoli skeptics into believers in my house more times than I can count
02 -
- I learned the hard way that if you skip par-cooking the broccoli, it ends up crunchy and raw while the rest of the casserole is perfectly done
- Draining your broccoli thoroughly is absolutely essential, or you'll end up with a watery casserole that nobody wants
03 -
- Adding cooked bacon or sautéed mushrooms takes this from good to absolutely incredible
- Grating your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded makes the sauce so much smoother and creamier