Crockpot Chicken Broccoli Rice is a meal you’ll want to add to your weekly dinner rotation because it’s full of flavor and it’s so incredibly easy to put together. If you love chicken, rice, and broccoli, this creamy and cheesy recipe will become one of your favorites. I make this in our house often, and everyone always comes back for seconds.
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The cream soup and cheese add so much flavor to the chicken and broccoli. I love how fluffy and soft the rice becomes without being mushy or overcooked. All of the ingredients come together to create a tasty, balanced cheesy chicken broccoli rice in the crockpot.
If you like casserole recipes, you will love Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole and Pork Chop Casserole.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s made in one pot: This recipe is made entirely in the slow cooker with no precooking required! It saves you so much time with cleanup, which is great if you are too tired or busy.
- It takes only 15 minutes to prep: In 15 minutes, all of the ingredients will be prepared and ready to go into the pot. A couple of items are added later in the cooking process, but it takes just a few seconds to stir them in. It’s so easy!
- It’s inexpensive: This is the perfect dinner to make on a budget. I like to keep extras of the ingredients on hand because they are super affordable and give me the freedom to make it whenever I want to throw together an easy meal.
Ingredients
Everything you need to make a successful slow cooker chicken broccoli rice is listed below. This includes seasoning and extra liquid to ensure that the rice is cooked perfectly.
- Rice: I use brown rice because it’s easy, affordable, and does well in the crockpot without overcooking and becoming mushy. You can use any variety of long-grain rice as a substitute.
- Onion: Chopped white onion adds a subtle texture and sweet flavor to the recipe. It helps to balance the other savory elements, as well as depth to the chicken and rice.
- Seasonings: I keep it simple and use salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and Italian seasoning. Feel free to use garlic powder or fresh garlic instead of granulated garlic if you wish. If using fresh, 1-2 minced cloves is perfect.
- Cream of chicken soup: This adds flavor and a creamy texture to the recipe. It’s one of my favorite ingredients to use, especially in slow cooker meals, as a quick way to add depth and complexity.
- Chicken broth: This helps to cook the rice and provides moisture to the recipe. It also thins the cream soup so it has a perfect consistency.
- Chicken breasts: I use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes for this crockpot chicken and broccoli recipe.
- Broccoli: I prefer fresh broccoli because of the flavor and texture. It becomes tender but still has a slight bite to it.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese adds a subtle sharp flavor and just the right amount of cheesiness. Feel free to use another variety if you prefer.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Extra cheesy bacon: Add half a block of cream cheese and chopped, cooked bacon for an even cheesier and slightly smoky version.
- Mushroom: Swap the soup for cream of mushroom, and add slices of fresh mushrooms when you add the broccoli for an earthy flavor profile.
- Garlic parmesan: Incorporate fresh minced garlic and grated parmesan cheese for a sharp flavor.
How to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole in the Crockpot
Here are the steps needed to prepare and cook this crockpot chicken broccoli rice casserole. Before you get started, lightly spray inside the bottom and sides of your slow cooker.
Step 1: Add the ingredients to the crockpot. Combine the rice, onion, chicken, soup, broth, and seasonings in the bottom of the crockpot.
Step 2: Stir well. Give all the ingredients a good stir to ensure they are well combined and the rice is submerged in the liquid.
Step 3: Cook. Pop the lid on and let it cook on low for 2 hours.
Step 4: Add broccoli. Then, add the chopped broccoli into the pot and stir well. Allow the casserole to cook for another 2 hours on low.
Step 5: Add cheese and serve. Once everything is fully cooked and tender, it’s time to stir in the shredded cheese. Then, scoop and enjoy your delicious cheesy broccoli chicken and rice dinner!
Recipe Tips
- Cook the rice separately: If you want, you can cook the rice separately. Add it at the end of the cooking process or serve the chicken and broccoli on top.
- Try frozen broccoli: This recipe works great with frozen broccoli, too. I recommend stirring it in at the last hour of cooking instead of 2 hours. This will prevent the broccoli from overcooking and becoming mushy.
- Don’t use bone-in chicken: Boneless chicken diced into cubes is definitely better in this recipe. It’s meant to be ready to serve once it’s fully cooked. Bone-in chicken takes longer to cook, and that will risk the other ingredients overcooking.
If you love recipes like this chicken rice casserole, you may also enjoy this Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Casserole.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months in a Ziploc freezer bag or container.
- Reheating: For best results, add a splash of water or broth before reheating the leftovers to ensure the rice has enough moisture. You can also just put a portion into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 2-3 minutes or until warm.
- Make Ahead: You can prepare in advance by chopping the broccoli and chicken and storing them in separate containers in the refrigerator. It is essentially a “dump dinner” that comes together quickly. There’s minimal prep already!
Serving Suggestions
- This old-fashioned cucumbers salad is a bright and cold side dish that would pair well with cheesy chicken broccoli casserole.
- Sweet green beans work great, too. You can never have too many vegetables!
- Add some chipotle chili pepper powder for a smoky flavor and a little spice.
- Try a simple and tasty dessert like strawberry pizza or a Dr. Pepper ice cream float for the perfect sweet treat after this chicken broccoli rice dinner.
Recipe FAQs
Of course! This is highly encouraged for an even easier cleanup process! It’s not required, but I love using them.
I recommend that the chicken is fully thawed before it’s added to the slow cooker. Frozen chicken doesn’t tend to cook evenly and is unsafe to cook in a slow cooker.
If you like! Then, you can shred or slice them before serving. You can do the same if you choose to use boneless chicken thighs.
More Delicious Crockpot Dishes
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section, I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked brown rice
- 1 cup white onion chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into ½-inch cubes
- 2 cups fresh broccoli chopped
- 1 cup mild cheddar cheese shredded
- Optional: additional cheddar cheese for topping chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker by coating it with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Add the uncooked brown rice, chopped onion, salt, black pepper, granulated garlic, and Italian seasoning, cream of chick soup, chicken stock and chicken cubes to the slow cooker.
- Stir ingredients until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 2 hours.
- After 2 hours, add the chopped broccoli to the slow cooker, stirring gently to combine. Cover again and cook for an additional 2 hours on low.
- Once the cooking time is complete, stir in the shredded mild cheddar cheese until melted and fully incorporated.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Thaw your chicken breasts before adding them to your slow cooker so they cook properly and evenly.
- Store any leftover cheesy crockpot chicken and rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Try using a crockpot liner for even easier cleanup!
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