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This Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe is sponsored by Roth Cheese. As always, all opinions are my own
Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a staple recipe in my house when I’m looking for a hearty filling balanced meal that can be made in one dish! Along with the cubed chicken breast and fresh broccoli, I usually toss in either rice, pasta or quinoa along with a light cream sauce. It’s a cheesy, creamy and ultra-cozy recipe to make during the winter!
This Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe has a special place in my heart. Not only because it is absolutely delicious, but because it was one of the first healthy-ish casseroles I learned to make. It’s got protein, it’s got veggies, and it’s got that cheesy goodness that everybody loves. And the best part? It doesn’t taste like you’re eating a “healthy casserole”. It just tastes good!
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Ingredients to make chicken broccoli casserole
- How to make chicken broccoli casserole
- Tips for making this cheesy chicken casserole
- Popular substitutions & additions
- How to store & reheat this chicken broccoli casserole
- Frequently asked questions
- More chicken dinner recipes:
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Recipe at a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: American
Primary Cooking Method: Oven
Key Flavor: Savory, Cheesy
Skill Level: Easy
Summary
- Healthy-ish yet Filling: This dish is both satisfying and nutritious. It’s packed with protein from the chicken and loaded with fiber from the quinoa and broccoli.
- Kid-Friendly: The cheese does a good job of covering the taste of the broccoli, perfect for picky eaters.
- Quick for Busy Days: You don’t need to spend forever in the kitchen. It only takes 10 minutes to prep and less than an hour to bake.
- Feeds a Crowd: Whether it’s a family dinner or a casual get-together, this chicken broccoli bake makes a bunch.
Ingredients to make chicken broccoli casserole
- Quinoa: It’s a whole grain that is high in nutritional value and protein. You can substitute quinoa with other grains or pasta.
- Broccoli: Cut into florets. You can toss them into the casserole or blanch and add in during the final 5 minutes.
- Chicken breasts: You will need skinless, boneless breasts, cut into cubes. If you can, use organic chicken that hasn’t been raised on antibiotics. It’s a good idea to cut them into bite-sized pieces, but you can also cut them into strips.
- Chicken broth and milk: The liquid components that make the chicken broccoli casserole creamy and add flavor. Make your own chicken stock/broth to have on hand when you need it.
- All purpose flour: To help thicken the casserole. You can substitute with almond flour or rice flour.
- Seasoning: Garlic powder, salt and pepper. Feel free to add in any others like Italian seasoning or Oregano.
- Cheese: A combination of Roth Grand Cru Cheese and Roth Havarti Cheese.
How to make chicken broccoli casserole
Start by prepping all the ingredients so you can quickly add them to the casserole all together. While it’s tempting to buy pre-shredded cheese, buying a block of cheese ensures there are no added caking agents that will prevent the casserole from being delightfully cheesy. I like to include a mix of two types of cheese:
- Roth Grand Cru Cheese: This Alpine-style cheese is quite a unique cheese that’s made with local Wisconsin milk and crafted in copper vats. It has light floral notes, nutty undertones, a hint of fruitiness and a mellow finish that really adds a distinctive taste to the chicken broccoli casserole.
- Roth Havarti Cheese: This cheese is hand-crafted with all-natural ingredients to create a buttery, sweet and ultra melty cheese that makes the perfect cheesy topping on the casserole.
Once you finish shredding the cheese and making the creamy sauce, it’s time to layer the chicken broccoli casserole. Start with olive oil at the bottom of the casserole, add the chicken, salt and pepper and cover it with quinoa.
Next add the cream sauce along with the Roth Havarti cheese and stir to combine. Now it’s ready for the oven. You can stir it in the oven a couple times, but it’s not necessary.
Once the liquid is absorbed and the chicken looks cooked, it’s time to add the blanched broccoli and top it off with the Roth Grand Cru Cheese. Then, return it to the oven until the cheese melts. When it comes out of the oven, it will be all bubbly, cheesy and oozy!
Tips for making this cheesy chicken casserole
- Grease the casserole dish before you add the ingredients to it. This will help to prevent sticking and you will be able to serve the dish with ease (and clean up with ease!)
- Take your time to whisk the sauce really well when cooking it. That’s how you will make sure the flour gets all mixed in and you don’t end up with any lumps.
- Give your quinoa a good rinse before using it. This helps to get rid of any bitterness and makes sure it cooks up nice and fluffy.
- Make sure to season each ingredient that goes into the casserole. If you’ve ever tasted bland casseroles, it’s because the seasoning was off. It’s important to season the chicken, the quinoa and finally, the broccoli.
- Use a broiler during the last five minutes for more crispy edges. If you prefer a more crisped topping for the casserole, try broiling the last couple minutes instead of baking.
- Let the casserole sit for several minutes before serving. You want to make sure the casserole stays intact when you serve it and doesn’t fall apart. This also gives it some cooling time so you don’t burn your tongue ;-0
Popular substitutions & additions
- Make it Gluten-Free: If you or someone you’re serving needs to stay away from gluten, you can easily use a gluten-free all-purpose flour in place of regular all-purpose flour.
- Replace the Quinoa: Not a quinoa fan? You can use rice or even pasta instead. Just make sure to add them uncooked to the casserole.
- Use a Different Kind of Cheese: Feel free to mix up the cheese based on what you like or have on hand. Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, or any cheese that melts well can do the trick.
- Add in More Vegetables: If you want to make this chicken broccoli casserole even more healthy, toss in some carrots or bell peppers, or maybe even some spinach. Just chop them up and add them in with the broccoli.
How to store & reheat this chicken broccoli casserole
If you end up with any leftovers, place them in an airtight container and store it in the fridge.
The easiest way to reheat your cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole is to just grab a portion and microwave it. Give it a couple of minutes, stirring halfway through to make sure it heats up evenly. If you want to reheat the whole dish, you can also use the oven. But remember, since this recipe includes chicken, it’s best to only reheat the full dish once.
How long will this chicken casserole last in the fridge?
This casserole will stay fresh inside the fridge for 3 to 4 days, as long as it’s kept in an airtight container.
Can I freeze this chicken broccoli casserole recipe?
Yes, you can totally freeze it! Simply cut the casserole into portions and place them in freezer bags or airtight containers. They should stay fresh and frozen for about 2 to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, just thaw a portion in the fridge overnight and then reheat.
Frequently asked questions
What size baking dish is best?
I recommend using a 9×13 baking dish. My casserole dish is a little smaller than that, so it was a little overflowing, but everything still managed to stay in the dish after baking.
Do you need to cover the casserole in the oven?
This is not necessary. Just use the middle rack of the oven and you can toss the mixture once or twice if you’d like. However, I haven’t found a need to cover the casserole with foil.
Can you make this casserole ahead of time?
You can prep the whole dish ahead of time, up to the point of baking, and then cover it in foil and keep in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. It will keep uncooked for a day or two depending on the use by date of your chicken. You can also bake it, then let it cool and keep covered in the fridge for 2-3 days and reheat it. Only reheat it once though as it contains chicken. Check out this Freezer Meals for Families post for more make ahead ideas.
More chicken dinner recipes:
- Chicken Marinade Recipes
- Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Skillet Chicken with Couscous
- Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
- Harissa Chicken
- Chicken Lettuce Cups
- Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats
- Zucchini Enchiladas with Chicken
- How to Poach Chicken
This Chicken Broccoli Casserole is always such a hit with friends and family! It’s the ultimate cozy comfort meal when the weather gets cool. Easy enough to make for a healthy weeknight meal, but the robust Roth Grand Cru Cheese and the creamy Roth Havarti Cheese make it feel like a real treat!
Thank you Roth Cheese for sponsoring this Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe.
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Chicken Broccoli Casserole recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Chicken Broccoli Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa rinsed
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 cups 2% milk
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup Roth Havarti Cheese shredded
- ½ cup Roth Grand Cru Cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the chicken broth and milk together. Then slowly whisk in the flour, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth.
- Drizzle the olive oil to the bottom of a casserole dish, add the chicken cubes and season with salt and pepper. Add the quinoa and the Havarti cheese on top, then transfer the sauce over the quinoa and chicken. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, tossing halfway through to separate any clumped quinoa.
- Blanch the broccoli by cooking it for one minute in boiling water, then transferring it to an ice bath to stop the cooking.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and fold in the broccoli, leaving some on top. Sprinkle the Grand Cru cheese on top and return to the oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and let stand for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Instead of milk, you can use plant-based milk or only chicken broth.
- I tested this recipe with a whole wheat white flour, but it will work with gluten-free flour.
- You can replace the quinoa with rice or pasta of choice.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
If I replace the quinoa with pasta, do I still use 1 cup?
Very yummy! Granted, I did change out the two cheese to what I had on hand (1/2 cup each of feta and cheddar-gruyere). So easy too, especially using some costco rotisserie chicken. I also used about double the broccoli to up the veggies. Would definitely make again.
Thanks for sharing the swaps you made!
Can you please offer substitutes for both of the cheeses? Looking for something a little more common and affordable
Your recipe says you can substitute pasta or rice but doesn’t specify if they should be cooked first?
The rice or pasta would go into the casserole uncooked. I hope you enjoy!
The directions say to use Italian seasoning but it is not in the ingredient list. How much is to be used?
Made this dish for a week night dinner for my family and it was such a hit! It was so good and the perfect amount of cheesy deliciousness! Would make this again and maybe try adding another veggie or trying another grain too 🙂
Yay!! That’s perfect. Yes, so many ways to switch up this casserole and make it your own!
I made this for my family for dinner tonight, and it was a huge hit, even for my brother who is not a cheese lover!! Delicious comfort food for a cold, rainy day! (Note: I used brown rice instead of quinoa and cheddar jack cheese)
So glad to hear it! What an awesome meal on a rainy day…totally agree!
So easy to make ! And delicous
Glad to hear it. Thank you!!
The casserole turned out so good! Except I added some extra chilli as I’m a spice lover. So healthy and easy to prepare for weekdays.
Oh I love that you added extra chili! Yum!
Just made this!! Was delicious and easy, making again on the weekend!
Yay awesome!! Thank you!
I gave this recipe a try today, and I really liked it! I think I would replace broccoli with basil leaves next time though. Thank you Yumna !!
Hi Sara, thanks so much for sharing! I love the idea of adding basil instead of broccoli 🙂
This recipe was really delicious. I made sure to season each layer as directed. I doubled the recipe (used 2.5 lbs chicken). I was confused about the addition of water in the directions , as it wasn’t in the ingredient list or the video. I ended up making the sauce (doubled) and then added 1 cup of chicken broth.
Consistency was fantastic in the end, not too wet/soupy, but certainly not dry.
Hi Sarah – I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! Sorry the water is a typo and I just deleted that part of the instructions. I’m glad it turned out well!!
Had some broccoli and chicken and hopped over to your site and was so happy to find this recipe. It was such a delicious meal that my whole family loved
That’s awesome! So glad to hear it!
What kind of cheese could I use if I dont have access to Roth Grand Cru?
I would recommend using Gruyere cheese or swiss cheese if you can’t find that. Hope it helps!
Thanks! the recipe says Italian seasoning, but doesn’t say how much. Also, is adding two cups of water necessary. It says to add water in the recipe, but that step is not shown in the video.