Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a hearty, family-friendly dish that mixes tender hen, crisp-tender broccoli, and a creamy cheese sauce—all baked collectively below a golden, crunchy topping. It’s a easy, comforting meal good for weeknights or potlucks.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Consolation Meals Basic: Creamy, tacky, and crispy—the last word cozy casserole.
• One-Pan Meal: Protein, greens, and sauce multi function dish.
• Straightforward to Put together: Makes use of widespread pantry components and comes collectively shortly.
• Nice for Leftovers: Tastes simply nearly as good the following day, making it good for meal prep.
• Customizable: Simply adaptable to totally different dietary wants or what you’ve gotten available.

Elements

(Tip: You’ll discover the total listing of components and measurements within the recipe card beneath.)

• 2 cups cooked hen, shredded or diced
• 3 cups broccoli florets (recent or frozen, steamed till crisp-tender)
• 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of hen soup
• ½ cup bitter cream or Greek yogurt
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to style
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers (about 30), crushed
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Combine Filling: In a big bowl, mix the cream of hen soup, bitter cream, shredded hen, broccoli, cheddar cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Combine properly.
3. Assemble: Pour the combination into the ready baking dish and unfold evenly.
4. Add Topping: In a small bowl, combine the crushed crackers with melted butter. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
5. Bake: Bake uncovered for 25–half-hour, or till scorching and bubbly with a golden topping.
6. Cool and Serve: Let relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving.

Servings and Timing

• Servings: 6
• Prep Time: quarter-hour
• Prepare dinner Time: half-hour
• Whole Time: 45 minutes

Variations

• Low-Carb: Use crushed pork rinds or almond flour combined with cheese as an alternative of crackers.
• Add Rice or Pasta: Stir in 1–2 cups cooked rice or pasta for a extra filling model.
• Completely different Cheeses: Strive Monterey Jack, Swiss, or a mix of cheeses.
• Veggie Increase: Add mushrooms, peas, or cauliflower to extend the vegetable content material.

Storage/Reheating

• Refrigeration: Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
• Freezing: Freeze baked or unbaked (with out the cracker topping) for as much as 2 months. Add topping simply earlier than baking.
• Reheating: Reheat within the oven at 350°F till scorching, or microwave particular person servings till warmed via.

FAQs

Can I take advantage of rotisserie hen?

Sure, rotisserie hen is ideal for saving time on this recipe.

Can I make this forward of time?

Sure, assemble the casserole (with out topping), cowl, and refrigerate as much as 24 hours earlier than baking.

Can I take advantage of recent broccoli?

Completely. Steam it briefly or blanch it earlier than including so it doesn’t flip mushy.

Is that this dish gluten-free?

It may be! Use gluten-free cream of hen soup and a gluten-free cracker or topping different.

What’s a superb substitute for bitter cream?

Greek yogurt works nice and provides a bit of additional protein.

Can I double the recipe?

Sure, use a bigger baking dish or two 9×13 pans if feeding a crowd.

What different greens work on this casserole?

Cauliflower, spinach, zucchini, or inexperienced beans are nice choices.

Can I make it vegetarian?

Sure, omit the hen and use extra broccoli or add in plant-based hen substitutes.

How do I hold the topping crispy?

Add the cracker topping simply earlier than baking and don’t cowl the dish.

Can I add a breadcrumb topping as an alternative?

Undoubtedly—panko or seasoned breadcrumbs work properly with melted butter.

Conclusion

Chicken Broccoli Casserole is a timeless consolation meals favourite that’s straightforward to arrange and even simpler to like. Whether or not you’re feeding your loved ones on a busy weeknight or bringing it to a potluck, this creamy, tacky casserole with a buttery topping is bound to be successful.

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