Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice

Cheesy chicken broccoli rice is an easy one-pan meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. Chopped chicken, broccoli, and rice are coated in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Author Heather

Ingredients

Chicken

16 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Cheesy broccoli rice

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ small onion small diced
1 cup long grain white rice not instant or brown (see note below)*
8 ounces chicken broth
8 ounces whole milk
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese grated
1 small head of broccoli chopped into small florets

Instructions

Chicken

Pound chicken breasts to 1 inch thickness or slice in half lengthwise to create thinner pieces. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
In a sauté pan over medium heat, add olive oil. When hot, add chicken in a single layer and cook until heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping once halfway through. Remove from pan, cover, and set aside.

Cheesy broccoli rice

Add butter to the sauté pan. Add onion and cook until it begins to lightly brown around the edges, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add white rice, chicken broth, milk, paprika, salt, and pepper to pan, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low.
Cook for about 12 minutes, then remove lid and add chopped broccoli florets. Cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. If pan begins to look dry, add a splash of water, stir, and cover to continue cooking. Resist the urge to remove the lid repeatedly as this can dry the dish out.
While rice cooks, chop the cooked chicken up into bite size pieces.
Remove from heat. Add shredded cheese and gently stir and fluff rice with a fork until cheese has melted. Add chicken and gently stir to incorporate before serving.

Notes

*If you'd like to substitute with brown rice, it will take significantly longer to cook - up to 45 minutes instead of the listed 18-20 minutes. Consult your rice's package directions for best results. You may also need to add an additional splash of water partway through cooking if it begins to look dry. Add broccoli during the last 5-7 minutes of cooking.
Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Stir rice sparingly as it cooks. Repeated stirring can cause rice to get mushy.

Nutrition