Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole

cast iron skillet with cheesy broccoli ground chicken and rice

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Casserole

A one pan meal with roasted broccoli, ranch seasoned ground chicken and rice, and cheddar cheese.

4.38 from 50 votes

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Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 40

Servings: Servings

Calories: 405kcal

Author: Mason Woodruff

Ingredients

1 1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil divided
12 oz Broccoli Florets cut into small bite-size pieces
Pinch of Salt and Pepper
1 pound Ground Chicken
2 Tablespoons Ranch Seasoning*
1 cup 180g Short Grain Rice, rinsed
2 1/2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth or Water
4 oz Extra Sharp Cheddar freshly grated

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the broccoli and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the broccoli begins to char around the edges and is a dark green color. Transfer to a bowl and season with a pinch of kosher salt and black pepper. Set aside.
Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet, followed by the ground chicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes to brown one side of the chicken before breaking apart and fully cooking.
Add the ranch seasoning and rice to the ground chicken. Stir everything together and cook for 30-60 seconds to lightly toast the rice before adding 1/2 cup of chicken broth to deglaze the pan.
Add the remaining broth and bring to a boil before covering and reducing to a simmer over low heat. Cook for 12-15 minutes until the rice is cooked and has absorbed all the liquid. Stir around the 8- minute mark to prevent sticking to the pan.
Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat and add half the cheese. Stir to melt the cheese before folding in the broccoli. Add the remaining cheese on top and cover for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
Garnish with black pepper, chile flakes, and parmesan, if desired.

Notes

*If you don't have ranch seasoning on hand, you can season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and herbs like dill and parsley. You may also like swapping ranch for something like the lemon pepper seasoning in my lemon ricotta ground turkey pasta.

Nutrition Facts Notes

You can add volume to the recipe by adding a diced sweet onion to the ground chicken after browning.

To reduce the fat content, you can skip adding the cheese in the chicken and rice. Just top the dish with 2 ounces of cheese.

You can add about 5 grams of protein per serving by using a bone broth.

Rice Notes

Short grain rice is typically a bit stickier than long grain rice, which I think works well for creamy, cheesy chicken and rice. If you prefer long grain rice, it should work fine in this recipe.

Using a veggie rice like Right Rice can reduce the carbs and increase protein and fiber content. You may need to slightly adjust the liquid.

Other rice alternatives might include orzo or other grains like quinoa. See my Cajun ground chicken orzo and Mexican quinoa and ground beef skillet for examples.

Misc Notes

You can roast the broccoli in an oven or air fryer. Just toss in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast at 425ºF for 8-10 minutes and add at the same step.

Nutrition