Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner is a comforting, creamy, and better-than-takeout meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. The creamy, cheesy sauce and tender chicken will make your family beg for this family-friendly dinner. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Classic Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice and Easy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe.
Why This Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Better than takeout flavor at home
- Creamy, cheesy sauce that's perfect for dipping
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the crockpot
- Family-friendly and freezer-friendly
What You'll Need for Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Extra shredded cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- Broccoli: Fresh or frozen broccoli florets work well.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Hands-off cooking for busy weeknights → See on Amazon
- Instant-read meat thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Top with broccoli florets, uncooked rice, and diced onion.
- Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour over the top of the chicken and broccoli.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot, topped with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and extra shredded cheese if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking, which can make the chicken dry and the rice mushy. To prevent this, make sure to cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and no more than that.
- Time-saving tip: You can also make this recipe in the Instant Pot by cooking on high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
- Make-ahead tip: This recipe freezes well. Assemble the ingredients in the crockpot, then freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking as directed.
- Serving tip: Serve with a side of crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
Storing & Reheating Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can also assemble this recipe in the crockpot the night before and refrigerate overnight. Cook as directed the next day.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Freeze assembled ingredients in the crockpot for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking as directed.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a can of diced green chilies along with the other ingredients.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream of chicken soup made from scratch.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated as needed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of milk or chicken broth.
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Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley
- Extra shredded cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Top with broccoli florets, uncooked rice, and diced onion.
- Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine cream of chicken soup, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour over the top of the chicken and broccoli.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot, topped with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and extra shredded cheese if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add a can of diced green chilies along with the other ingredients.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream of chicken soup made from scratch.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated as needed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little bit of milk or chicken broth.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze assembled ingredients in the crockpot for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking as directed.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until heated through.
- Make ahead: You can also assemble this recipe in the crockpot the night before and refrigerate overnight. Cook as directed the next day.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 38g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 110mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can assemble the ingredients in the crockpot the night before and refrigerate overnight. Cook as directed the next day.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking. Make sure to cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and no more than that.
Yes, you can make this recipe in the Instant Pot by cooking on high pressure for 10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
Yes, you can freeze assembled ingredients in the crockpot for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking as directed.
Serve with a side of crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
