If you love the ease and versatility of a 9 x 13 casserole but want the hands-off convenience of a slow cooker, this Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake is just for you! Tender chicken, hearty broccoli florets, and a velvety cheese sauce come together to create a comforting family favorite. Plus, you can let the slow cooker do all the work—no oven required.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen), roughly chopped
- 1 cup uncooked long-grain rice, rinsed
- 1¾ cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
- Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Begin by lightly greasing the insert of your slow cooker so cleanup will be even easier. Add the chicken pieces, broccoli florets, and rinsed rice to the bottom. In a separate bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the chicken, broccoli, and rice. Give everything a quick toss to ensure the grains of rice are evenly coated in the soup mixture.
Set your slow cooker to low heat and cook for about four to five hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the rice is tender. Avoid lifting the lid during the first couple of hours, as this can interfere with the cooking process.
Once the dish is just about ready, sprinkle one cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top and cover again, letting the cheese melt for the last ten minutes of cooking. When the cheese is perfectly gooey and melted, turn off the heat. If you like an extra cheesy touch, stir in the remaining half cup of shredded cheddar right before serving for that stretchy cheese pull!
This Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake is pure comfort food, perfect for a crowd or even meal-prep for the week. It’s particularly great for busy evenings when you crave something hearty without the fuss of multiple cooking steps. If you’d like a lighter version, you can swap in reduced-fat cheese or low-sodium chicken soup.
Vegetarians can replace the chicken with tofu or extra veggies like mushrooms. It’s a fantastic, all-in-one dinner that brings the warmth of a classic 9 x 13 casserole right to your slow cooker with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Nathaniel Lee is an avid cook, drawing on his decades of home cooking and fine dining experience. He is a contributing chef at Mashed, and his recipes and contributions have been featured in Tasting Table, Edible Arrangements, Insanely Good Recipes, and The Daily Meal.
