Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice features fluffy rice, tender chicken, broccoli, and lots of cheese. It’s the perfect dinner when you’re short on time and need a quick clean up!
Sometimes as a parent the last thing you want to do when dinner time rolls around is cook.
But when you have a few one-pan recipes up your sleeve, dinner time becomes much more manageable.
This cheesy chicken, broccoli, and rice skillet is one you’ll want to add to your recipe box for those nights when you don’t have a lot of time or energy.
This recipe works because it’s:
- Done in 30 minutes. When you’re short on time, you want a dinner that comes together quick.
- Easy clean up. I’m all about eliminating multiple cooking dishes!
- Full of broccoli. This recipe is an easy way to get your kiddos to eat their vegetables.
- Covered in cheese! And if you’ve got some picky eaters on your hands, the cheese helps disguise the broccoli.
This recipe was adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything
Step-by-Step Instructions
SEASON 2 pounds of cubed, boneless chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet or pan over medium heat and brown the chicken in 3 tablespoons of olive oil for 4-5 minutes.
ADD 1/2 tablespoon of onion powder and 2 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet and saute for 1 minute.
PUSH the chicken to one side of the skillet and saute 1 cup uncooked white rice in 1 additional tablespoon of olive oil for 2-3 minutes.
POUR 2 cups of chicken broth and 1/2 cup water into the skillet and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat, cover the skillet, and allow the rice and chicken to simmer for about 15 minutes.
SPRINKLE 1 (12 ounce) bag of frozen broccoli over the chicken and rice mixture and stir to combine.
CONTINUE to cook covered for another 5 minutes on low, or until broccoli and rice are both tender. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
REMOVE the skillet from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
SPRINKLE the remaining 1 1/2 cups of cheese on top and cover the skillet with a lid, letting it sit for 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
If you don’t like chicken broth or don’t have any on hand, try these easy chicken broth substitutes.
You can also try these substitutes for onion powder.
If your rice and broccoli aren’t quite tender after 20 minutes of cooking, you can always add a little extra water and continue simmering until everything is cooked to your liking.
I like to use frozen broccoli for this meal because it makes the prep work so easy, but if you’d like to use fresh broccoli, you’ll need to cut it into bite-sized pieces and add it into the skillet after 12 minutes.
More Like This
Looking for more one-pan or chicken dinners? You’ll love these!
- Creamy Gnocchi with Tomatoes
- Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta
- One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies
- Cheesy Chicken Macaroni Casserole
- Cheesy Zucchini, Black Bean, and Rice Skillet
- Cheesy Chicken and Linguine
I hope your family loves this recipe for cheesy chicken broccoli and rice! If you make it, be sure to take a picture and tag me on Instagram with @ashcroftfamilytable and use the hashtag #ashcroftfamilytable!
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Skillet Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, cubed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice, long grain
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ cup water
- 12 ounces frozen broccoli, about 4 cups
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Season cubed chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet or pan over medium heat and brown the chicken in 3 tablespoons of olive oil for 4-5 minutes.
- Add onion powder and minced garlic to the skillet and saute for 1 minute.
- Push the chicken to one side of the skillet and saute uncooked rice in 1 additional tablespoon of olive oil for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour chicken broth and water into the skillet and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat, cover the skillet, and allow the rice and chicken to simmer for about 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle the frozen broccoli over the chicken and rice mixture and stir to combine.
- Continue to cook covered for another 5 minutes on low, or until broccoli and rice are both tender. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1½ cups of cheese on top and cover the skillet with a lid, letting it sit for 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.