One-Pan Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
One-Pan Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice is a cheesy, easy dinner loaded with simple ingredients like chicken, rice, and broccoli. This dish is perfect for a busy weeknight when things are hectic. Only one dish to clean for this satisfying one-pan dinner recipe.
ONE-PAN DINNERS
I’m a little late to the one-pot, one-pan party. I don’t know why I’ve been resistant but with food trends, I’m either really early or really late to try them.
For example, I think I was the last person in the world to eat quinoa.
And cookie butter…, just had my first taste ever yesterday.
Subconsciously I was trying to avoid it because it’s one of those things that I knew I would find myself elbow deep in before realizing the whole jar was gone.
Move over Nutella, cookie butter is the hot ticket in town now (thanks Heather for buying me a jar).
Anywhoooo, back to one-pan dishes. I feel no reason to ever make anything in more than one pan now.
Which is why I made this One-Pan Mexican Rice Chicken yesterday. I loathe dishes. This is a trend I plan on hanging on to for a while.
EASY DINNERS
To be honest, I wasn’t planning on sharing this dish, which is why there aren’t any step-by-step shots. But I have your back y’all. Easy dinners are hard to come by so I had to share. Especially chicken dinners (like these Baked Chicken Chimichangas).
I made it purely out of necessity trying to keep my house clean for 12 hours before I had to host Bunko so I looked up one-pan dishes so that I could keep my kitchen clean and still feed my family.
After I made it, it looked so pretty so I snapped a couple of pictures just in case. I found this recipe over at No. 2 Pencil. She has a ton of one-pot recipes that you guys should check out.
Broccoli is one of the few vegetables my whole family loves so I knew it would be a hit and it was. If broccoli isn’t a vegetable your family loves you can use spinach or asparagus.
This is the kind of chicken recipe that sits in your back pocket when it’s 5 pm and you don’t know what you’re making for dinner.
HOW TO MAKE ONE-PAN CHEESY CHICKEN, BROCCOLI, AND RICE:
- First, start by cooking your onions in a little olive oil in a 12-inch skillet. Once they’re soft you can add your seasoned chicken breast. If you’re using a rotisserie chicken you can add it later when you add the cheese.
- Next, you’ll saute your rice in a little olive oil. This gives the rice extra flavor by toasting it. Have your liquid on had because you’ll want it as soon as it’s done toasting.
- Add your chicken broth. I really like Better than Bouillon Chicken base in a can (you add water) which can be found right next to regular chicken broth.
- After the rice has been cooking for a while add your broccoli and let it steam.
- Finally, when all the liquid has been absorbed by the rice you’re ready to add the cheddar cheese. Stir 1/2 a cup in and sprinkle the rest on top to melt.
OTHER ONE-PAN DINNERS
- One-Pan Garlic Butter Chicken
- One-Pan Chicken Tortilla Bake
- Egg Roll in a Bowl
- One-Pan Chicken Fajita Rice
- Italian Sausage and Peppers
- One-Pot Sausage Broccoli Pasta
- Cheater Korean Beef
- One-Pan Tomato Basil Chicken Quinoa
- Creamy Chicken Noodle Skillet
- One-Pan Chicken Spinach and Orzo
- Creamy Chicken and Spinach
- One-Pan Creamy Zucchini Pasta
- Chicken Salad recipe
- One-Pan Sausage Broccoli and Sun-dried Tomato Pasta
One-Pan Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced finely
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, , cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 cup uncooked extra long grain white rice
- 2 1/2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth, (I like to use Better than Buillion Chicken base)
- 2 1/2 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pan, sauté onions in two tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Once onions soften, increase the heat to medium high and add chicken to the pan.
- Brown the chicken pieces and add the garlic. Cook for about 1 more minute.
- Push chicken to one side of the pan and add additional tablespoon of olive oil to other side.
- Add the uncooked rice in the olive oil and saute it for a couple of minutes.
- Add the chicken broth to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cover the pan with a lid.
- Cook chicken and rice mixture covered for about 12 minutes.
- Sprinkle the broccoli evenly over the chicken and rice mixture and stir to combine.
- Continue to cook covered another 8 minutes on low, or until broccoli and rice are both tender.
- Remove from heat and stir in half a cup of cheese.
- Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and cover with a lid, letting it sit for 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Love this recipe! We make it all the time.
Yay!!
So do you cook the rice with the chicken too? Or cook chicken take it out and then do the rice and broccoli.?
Leave the chicken in so it can finish cooking
I made this dish last night and used asparagus instead of broccoli and it tasted really good, this recipe is a keeper and cleaning up was super easy, thank you
Great switch up for spring.
This is my go to recipe when I don’t have much time to prepare dinner. I love that it’s one pan which makes clean up a breeze. The family approves! I always double the recipe, which usually leaves us with leftovers.
Yay! We love this one too!
This recipe was a big hit with my family! I used rotisserie chicken instead of raw chicken. But I added it at the same time in the recipe. It did shorten the cook time, making it one of my “in a hurry “ meals. I will cook this again!
Yes! If I use rotisserie I usually add it at the end but you can do it either way.
This is my go to dinner during the week! Makes so much I always have leftovers for lunch the next day. I made it with ground turkey too, just as delicious!
Thank you!
Can’t beat a good rice, chicken, broccoli and cheese dish! I love this! I just tried it as a single/two service quick-ish lunch dish. Worked out okay. I guessed all the amounts so I think I got a couple things a little off. How you would adjust the ingredients for only two servings?
You could just divide the recipe by 3.
Omg we LOVED this recipe! I read that someone else added cracked red pepper and I did the same and it added the perfect amount of spice! I used instant rice and frozen broccoli and it still turned out amazing! Highly recommend (:
Great additions!
This is a really great basic easy recipe I don’t know why others are saying it’s bland you can absolutely easily add other seasonings that you have on hand for example I use Montreal chicken seasoning by McCormick on my chicken before browning them! Next time I might even mix up some cheeses use cheddar and a different one! Thanks !!
Thank you!
This was such an easy recipe! I added some basil for added flavor as well as a little more pepper for a bit of spice. This will definately be in rotation in my house.
Thank you!
Nice, easy recipe. I added some red pepper flakes, dried oregano and thyme to add a bit more flavor. Will teach my son this one for when he is cooking in college next year.
Thank you!
This is fantastic. I was broccoli-adverse and trying to find ways to learn to love it. This did the trick–and then some! This has been on regular rotation for months now. I think my husband might be getting a little bit tired of it, but not me! It’s true comfort food. I reduce the amount of cheese by half and it’s still delicious. I’ve got a pot cooking as I type this!
Great to hear!
me and my family loved it!! thank you
Glad to hear that.
This was quick, easy, delicious. My husband who does not like rice he said, it was good.
Glad to hear that.
Looks very yummy. To make it keto friendly, can I use cauliflower rice instead?
Of course. You wouldn’t need all the liquid.
Love this recipe. So easy and delicious. It’s comfort food for me.
Thanks you for sharing.♥️
You are welcome!
This appears frequently on our dinner table because my boys (hubs and son) and I LOVE it!
Forgot to give it the 5 star rating!
Happy to hear that!
I made this today! I have been looking for a chicken and rice recipe. So glad that I found your recipe. It is soo good. Chicken and rice had so much flavor and was not dry at all. Will certainly be making this again!!!!
Thank you!
Yum! I think I’ll cut the broccoli into smaller pieces next time. I also added shredded mozzarella on the initial mix-in. I like how it melts (texture) with the cheddar (flavor). Thank you for an easy and delicious recipe!
Hi. This looks delicious. Do you have any nutritional info for this? Thank you.
this was delicious. we used romano cheese instead, because that is all i had. family loved it!
If I use brown rice, is doubling the amount of chicken stock the correct ratio?
Yes, that’s a good estimate.
This looks great! How much adjustment should I make to the liquid if I’m using frozen broccoli?
It shouldn’t be too far off. The liquid is mainly for the rice.
This recipe doesn’t work. The times are off and the chicken gets tough cooking with the rice. The rice takes 30 min (covered).
I’ve made this 100 times. It does work! Maybe add your chicken later?
Are you using brown rice? White rice takes ~15 mins to cook on low after it comes up to a boil.
It turned out ok. Next time I think I need to use a bigger pot.
Oh man this was so good. I usually make this in a casserole,but use cream of chicken in a can. Nothing wrong with that,real good. But this time I wanted to make it a little different. It was easy and quick. The only thing was my rice turned out brown,but I think it was cause the oil was already dark with the chicken. My husband probably thought it was brown rice. Lol. Also I did use more broth after I added the broccoli. Thank you for this dish.
You’re welcome!
This is a go to easy recipe in our house. Thanks!
Thank you!
Can you use minute rice?
YEs but would have to adjust for time.
any idea how much adjusting? Like should i add the broccoli when i add the rice if im using minute rice?
Yes! That’s what I would do.
I use this recipe religiously, twice a month at least. It has been in my meal rotation for at least 1.5 years and i don’t plan on cutting it out anytime soon! Thank you thank you thank you for this incredible family (picky toddler) recipe!
You are welcome!
Excellent one pan dish, our new go-to meal!! So quick and simple!! Might try to spice it it one time soon by adding red pepper flakes! We just love, thanks!!
Thank you!
I’m making this for the second time and it’s definitely getting added to the dinner rotation. The first time I made it, I used a leftover chicken thigh and some sliced chicken lunchmeat. It was wonderful! This time I’ll be using the leftover meat from a whole chicken I cooked in the crockpot. My husband and I have already eaten two meals from the whole chicken and this recipe will provide us both with two more. Sweet! This recipe is sooooo good!!! Thank you!!! <3
You’re welcome!