6 Add enough chicken broth to thin the mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, covered, 10 minutes uncovered. Add diced eggplant and cook just until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent browning and to promote moisture release. Add cheese, salt, pepper, and Rotel tomatoes. Pour the required amount of milk evenly over the entirety of the casserole to keep it moist while it bakes. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. I generally use a rotisserie chicken for convenience.Directions Instructions Checklist Step 1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Best Type Of Chicken To Use?Įither cooked chicken breasts or thigh meat work great.
I’d suggest cutting it into 1/2 inch pieces so it cooks enough as the casserole bakes. If you add the broccoli without parboiling, it will have more crunch. I like to parboil fresh broccoli until it’s just tender then drain it well before adding it to the casserole. I like to wrap mine after it thaws in a clean dish towel and gently, but firmly, wring it to remove most of the water. It will need to be thawed and drained will. Brown rice requires a longer cooking time so just consider that when you’re planning.Īlso, the brown rice will add a nice slightly nutty flavor and a bit more texture to the chicken rice broccoli casserole. Yes, you can! Since this recipe calls for the rice to be cooked you won’t have to make any other adjustments. It’s stickier and doesn’t have the same creaminess long grain has. I don’t like to use Minute rice in this recipe. If you don’t want to use white rice, see below. I like to cook the rice in chicken broth, rather than plain water, so it adds a little extra flavor to the casserole dish. You can make it fresh on the stovetop or use leftovers. It’s my family’s favorite and I always have it on hand. It adds a nice creaminess to the casserole. Mix Together And Sprinkle On Top of Casserole:įREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Best Type of Rice To Use?.It’s a really delicious topping! If you want to try another option, replace the topping above with one of these: Corn Flake Topping: The recipe calls for topping the casserole with a mixture of shredded cheddar cheese, panko crumbs, dried thyme, and melted butter. Switch the panko crumbs in the topping with crushed Ritz crackers.Add some cooked chopped bacon at step 2.Try switching the broccoli with cauliflower or thawed and grained mixed frozen veggies.No one ever says no to biscuits! My Bisquick biscuits are a snap to make and would be a delicious addition! Variations + Substitutes, + Additions If you want to add a side dish, a simple green salad works nicely, dressed with my balsamic vinaigrette recipe (one of my all-time favorite dressings and it only takes 5 minutes to put together!), or add another vegetable even the kids will love my super easy brown sugar carrots. One thing I love about this casserole is it’s a complete meal all on its own. Place leftovers in a small baking dish and cover with foil. Reheat Leftover: Preheat oven to 350☏.On dinner night, add your cheesy breadcrumb topping and toss it in the oven. Combine your ingredients and spread them into a prepared baking dish.Make-Ahead Tips: This chicken broccoli casserole is fantastic for meal prep! You can make it ahead of time the same way you prepare to freeze it.When you’re ready to pop it in the oven for dinner, that’s when you mix up your savory crunchy topping and cover your casserole. Wrap it up and toss it in the freezer instead of the oven.If you know you’re going to be freezing this, then prepare as directed without the cheesy breadcrumb topping.
I often make two casseroles and put one in the freezer for later.