Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner is a creamy, comforting, and hands-off meal that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to keeping it from being too watery. The result? A cozy, family-favorite dinner that’s ready in just a few hours. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Baked Cinnamon Banana Fritters with Honey Drizzle and Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Recipe for Dinner.
Why This Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- It's creamy and comforting, like a warm hug on a cold day.
- Hands-off cooking means you can spend more time with your family.
- Better than takeout, and way more affordable too!
- Customize it with your favorite veggies or add-ins.
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
- frozen broccoli florets
- long grain white rice
- chicken broth
- cream of chicken soup
- shredded cheddar cheese
- salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried parsley
- Optional: additional shredded cheese
- Optional: chopped green onions
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken broth: You can use low-sodium or regular. Using low-sodium can help prevent the dish from being too salty.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Cooks food evenly and hands-off. Pays for itself vs takeout. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Smooths out the sauce for a creamy texture. No need to transfer hot food to a blender. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley.
- Step 2: Spread frozen broccoli florets over the chicken.
- Step 3: In a bowl, mix together rice, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup. Pour over the broccoli.
- Step 4: 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 5: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with additional cheese, green onions, and red pepper flakes 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 using too much liquid. To prevent it, use 1 cup less chicken broth than the package of rice calls for. If it's still too watery, thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
- Pro tip: For even creamier results, blend the sauce with an immersion blender before serving.
- Pro tip: To prevent the chicken from drying out, make sure it's fully submerged in the liquid.
- Pro tip: For a healthier version, use Greek yogurt instead of cream of chicken soup.
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 fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead of time and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pot meal, cook the rice directly in the slow cooker. Add 1 cup less liquid than the package calls for and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Best substitution: Instead of cream of chicken soup, use a mixture of Greek yogurt, chicken broth, and cornstarch for a healthier, less processed version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients the night before and store them in the fridge. In the morning, place everything in the slow cooker and turn it on before leaving for work.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is still pink in the middle, cook it for a longer period or at a higher temperature. If the dish is too watery, thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
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Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- frozen broccoli florets
- long grain white rice
- chicken broth
- cream of chicken soup
- shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings
- salt
- pepper
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- dried parsley
Optional Toppings
- additional shredded cheese
- chopped green onions
- crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley.
- Step 2: Spread frozen broccoli florets over the chicken.
- Step 3: In a bowl, mix together rice, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup. Pour over the broccoli.
- Step 4: 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 5: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with additional cheese, green onions, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a one-pot meal, cook the rice directly in the slow cooker. Add 1 cup less liquid than the package calls for and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Best substitution: Instead of cream of chicken soup, use a mixture of Greek yogurt, chicken broth, and cornstarch for a healthier, less processed version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the ingredients the night before and store them in the fridge. In the morning, place everything in the slow cooker and turn it on before leaving for work.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the chicken is still pink in the middle, cook it for a longer period or at a higher temperature. If the dish is too watery, thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 90mg
- Sat. Fat: 8g
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 make this ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until heated through.
The chicken may not have cooked long enough or at a high enough temperature. Cook it for a longer period or at a higher temperature.
Yes, you can make this in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 8-10 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
Yes, you can use fresh broccoli. Cut it into florets and add it to the slow cooker with the chicken. It may take a little longer to cook.
You may have used too much liquid. To prevent this, use 1 cup less chicken broth than the package of rice calls for. If it's still too watery, thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
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!
