Description
A creamy, baked one-pot dish with tender chicken, nutritious broccoli, and fluffy rice blended in a rich cheese sauce. Perfect for quick family meals or meal prepping, and easy to customize slightly while remaining comfortably satisfying.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken breast
4 cups chopped broccoli (fresh or frozen)
2 cups uncooked rice (long-grain or jasmine)
3 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
2 tbsp unsalted butter (substitute with olive oil)
2 cups low-fat milk (adjust for creaminess; swap with unsweetened almond/cashew milk)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour (adds thickness to cheese sauce)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
In a large pot, melt butter and sauté onion and garlic until softened
Add chicken cubes and cook until browned but not fully done
Sprinkle flour into the pot and stir to coat the chicken
Pour in milk, stirring constantly until mixture thickens
Add rice and remaining cheese, bring to a gentle boil
Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes
Stir in broccoli, cover the pot, and simmer for another 10 minutes
Transfer mixture to a greased casserole dish
Place broccoli on top, cover with remaining cheese
Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until golden and bubbly
Notes
For best results, use faster-cooking white rice; brown rice requires 1.5 times the baking duration
Freezer-friendly: Cool completely before storing in airtight containers
Adjust cheese type for flavor (goat cheese adds tang)
If using frozen broccoli, briefly blanch it first
Optional: Add breadcrumbs to the top crust for extra texture
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 45
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Home Cooked
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 person
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 110mg