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.
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 9x13 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!