Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole (one pot)

This healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole recipe is comforting, nutritious, and packed with flavor! Made with rice, shredded or ground chicken (or beans to make it vegan!), fresh broccoli, and a flavorful sauce. It’s quick and easy, made in one pot, making it perfect for any weeknight. Bonus – this casserole is gluten-free, dairy-free, and is full of veggies and protein.

Growing up, chicken broccoli rice casserole was always one of my favorite meals. Until it was the only thing my mom would make (she wasn’t the cook in the family LOL). I got a little burnt out on it, never making it in my adult years. Well guys, i’m making up for lost time, because I can’t believe I forgot how delicious and comforting it is.

I love an easy one-pot meal, especially for busy weeknights. Bonus points if I can save some as meal prep lunches for Thomas. What’s not to love? It’s comfy, saucy, cheesy, high protein, and can be made to fit any dietary need! It requires minimal prep and minimal effort – essentially you dump and bake!

Chicken broccoli rice casserole recipe video

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Ease: This recipe is so quick and easy which makes it great for busy weeknights! It’s made in one pot and is easy enough for any cooking level! Unlike most chicken broccoli rice casseroles, you don’t have to make a roux or cream sauce in a skillet! 
• Versatile: You can really make this to fit your liking! Add buffalo sauce, switch up the seasonings or proteins, etc. Make it cheesy chicken broccoli casserole or make it with no cheese!
• Dietary needs: This recipe can work perfectly with most diets and can be made vegan and/or dairy-free and is gluten-free.
• Meal prep: This stores great and is delicious reheated the next day so you can save leftovers for meal prep lunches or dinner for busy days.
• Makes great leftovers!
• Made without butter, dairy, cream, cream of chicken soup, or cream of mushroom soup. Just real, simple ingredients!

How to make healthy chicken broccoli rice casserole

Equipment

• Medium pot
• Casserole dish

Ingredients

• Uncooked white or brown rice: You can also use quinoa if you prefer! Do NOT use instant rice!
• Fresh Broccoli
• Chicken or tofu: If you don’t want to start with raw chicken, you can use about 2 cups of shredded or diced cooked chicken (such as rotisserie chicken). For a vegan option, you can use cooked ground tofu or tempeh, or even stir in hemp seeds.
• Plain unsweetened coconut yogurt or greek yogurt: Most broccoli rice casseroles require milk and cream but this casserole is made without butter, cream, or milk! The yogurt acts as an amazing substitute while still adding so much creaminess.
• Dairy-free cheese or regular cheese: I like to use vegan cheese by the brand VioLife.
• Milk: Plant-based milk or dairy milk will work. I use cashew milk!
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, nutritional yeast (optional but adds an amazing cheesy flavor!)
• Buffalo sauce: This is totally optional, but adding buffalo sauce takes this recipe up a notch!
• Fresh parsley, for topping

Steps

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Cook rice: Cook your rice according to instructions (each rice variety varies slightly). When there is 5 minutes left of cooking, open the pot and add the broccoli. Give it a quick stir and place the lid back on to finish cooking.
• Make it saucy: When the rice is finished, remove from heat. Stir in the seasonings, milk, and yogurt, mixing well.
• Bake: Pour the rice mixture into a greased casserole dish. Top with cheese of choice (I used dairy-free cheese). Then bake the casserole for 20-30 minutes until cheesy is bubbly and melty. I like to top mine with fresh herbs like parsley. Serve immediately!

Can chicken broccoli rice be made vegan?

Yes! Opt for a vegan protein like ground tofu or mix in some white beans. Simply cook crumbled tofu in a little olive oil in a pan with seasonings of choice until the tofu is golden. Then follow the instructions in the recipe and use as you would chicken.

FAQ’s and Recipe tips

• Can you use frozen broccoli? You can but fresh broccoli is best as you can cook it to your preferred texture! However, if using frozen broccoli, let it thaw completely before using!
• Can you use rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked shredded chicken? Yes! Just use it towards the end of the recipe, instead of cooking raw chicken!
• Storing leftover casserole: Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-4 days! Storage: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The rice will dry out a bit as it sits, so you may need to stir in some additional broth or milk when you reheat it.
• Can you freeze chicken casserole? I do not recommend freezing, as rice tends to get mushy when thawed.
• How to reheat chicken casserole: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350F for 20-25 minutes until warmed through or reheat individual portions in the microwave for a minute or so!

Recipe variations

• Swap quinoa for rice to make Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole.
• Swap cauliflower for broccoli and add some buffalo sauce to make buffalo cauliflower casserole!
• Add in some cubed squash for a fall casserole.
• Stir in some pesto.

More healthy recipes to try

• Vegan broccoli cheese soup
• Healthy chicken pot pie soup
• Japanese carrot ginger salad dressing
• Viral TikTok egg breakfast sandwich
• One-pan enchilada breakfast skillet
• Paleo sandwich bread
• Breakfast egg stuffed peppers
• Thai crunch salad with peanut dressing

Healthy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This healthy Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe is comforting, nutritious, and packed with flavor! Made with rice, shredded or ground chicken (or tofu for vegan!), fresh broccoli, and a flavorful sauce. It’s super easy and quick to make, perfect for any weeknight. Bonus, it is gluten-free, can be dairy-free, and is full of veggies and protein.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup rice or quinoa of choice
• 2 cups bone broth or veggie broth *adjust amounts depending on how much liquid the rice your cooking calls for! See notes!
• 2 cups chopped broccoli florets
• 16 oz cooked ground chicken (usually one package) *for vegan, sub a can of white beans
• 1 small yellow onion, diced super small
• 1 cup cottage cheese, plain unsweetened greek yogurt or coconut yogurt *use a thick option!
• 1 cup plain, unsweetened non-dairy or dairy milk
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast *optional but so yummy!
• 1/4 cup buffalo sauce *IF making the buffalo version! I use primal kitchen
• 1 1/3 cups cheese, of choice (I like VioLife for a dairy-free/vegan option!)

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish (or one similar in size, doesn't have to be exact!)
• Cook rice: Cook your rice according to instructions (each rice variety varies slightly). While the rice is cooking, rinse and chop your broccoli into small florets and dice your onion super small.
• In a pan over medium heat, add a little oil spray or drizzle of oil and cook your ground chicken, breaking it up into small bits. I just season mine with a little salt & pepper. Remove from the heat when it's cooked through. If you're using beans, skip this step but drain & rinse your beans & set aside.
• When there is 5 minutes left of cooking time for the rice, open the pot and add the broccoli and onion. Give it a quick stir and place the lid back on to finish cooking.
• Make it saucy: When the rice is finished, remove from heat. Stir in the seasonings, milk, yogurt, buffalo sauce (if using), and chicken or beans, mixing well.
• Bake: Pour the rice mixture into a greased casserole dish. Top with cheese of choice (I used dairy-free cheese).
• Then bake the casserole for 35-40 minutes and cheese is bubbly and melty. I like to top mine with fresh herbs like parsley. Serve immediately!

Video

Notes

Note: to make this even faster, and reduce a step, you can use pre-cooked chicken breast and either shred it or cut it into small pieces. Then add to the rice and broccoli mix along with the other ingredients!

*Different rice varieties usually vary a bit in cooking methods and liquid amounts needed. I highly recommend using Bone Broth or veggie broth to cook the rice in, instead of water, as this not only adds SO much flavor but extra protein & nutrients, too!

Keyword broccoli casserole, chicken casserole, dairy-free casserole, ground chicken recipes, healthy casserole, healthy casseroles, healthy dinner recipes, healthy meal prep, high protein meals, one-pot dinners