Go Back

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This is a classic, easy chicken and broccoli casserole. It features shredded cooked chicken and blanched broccoli layered over rice, bound in a creamy sauce made from condensed soup, sour cream, mayonnaise, and lemon juice, then topped with cheese and baked until bubbly and golden.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 10 people
Calories 5189.6 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Pot For cooking the chicken
  • 1 Medium Pot For boiling broccoli
  • 1 Large Bowl For mixing casserole ingredients
  • 1 9x13 Baking Dish
  • 1 Colander For draining chicken and broccoli

Ingredients
  

Main

  • Nonstick cooking spray or butter for the baking dish
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 medium head broccoli cut into small florets
  • 2 cups cooked white rice
  • One 10-ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 10 ounces Cheddar grated (about 2 1/2 cups)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or butter.
  • Place the chicken in a large pot with water to cover. Add some salt, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook the chicken until tender, about 45 minutes. Drain the chicken, cover, and refrigerate until cool, or up to 24 hours. Shred.
  • Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets, and boil until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Spread the rice in an even layer in the baking dish. Make a second layer with the broccoli. In a large bowl, mix the chicken soup, the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, shredded chicken, half the Cheddar and some salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the broccoli and top with the remaining Cheddar. Bake for 40 minutes; let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Ensure chicken is cooked until very tender for easy shredding. Avoid overcooking the broccoli; crisp-tender is ideal as it will continue to cook in the oven. For an extra layer of flavor and texture, consider adding a topping of crushed butter crackers or breadcrumbs during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. Taste the sauce mixture before adding it to the dish and adjust seasoning as needed. Allowing the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after baking is crucial for it to set properly before serving.