Slow cooker chicken broccoli and rice is the crockpot version of a timeless favorite. Tender chicken, sticky rice and crisp broccoli florets altogether in an amazingly cheesy sauce. This is one of those crock pot meals your whole family will love.
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** This recipe is an updated version of a recipe that was originally posted in Sept 2021.
📝Shopping list
To make this easy recipe, you will need these simple ingredients:
- Chicken - boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
- Dried minced onion
- Garlic - minced
- Dijon mustard
- Chicken broth
- Sour cream - I use reduced fat but full fat would work as well
- Shredded cheddar cheese - I buy it already shredded, but if you shred it by hand, it will melt better
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese - same as above
- Cream cheese - I use full fat, but reduced fat or Neufchatel cheese would work here as well
- Microwavable white rice packets
- Broccoli - cut into bite-sized florets.
Sometimes you just need comfort food. For some that means soup, for others it is pasta (for me it is dessert!). But, for a ton of people, it is slow cooker meals like this one.
🥣Instructions
Preparing your slow cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: Some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a disposable crockpot liner.
Cooking
- Add mustard, broth, garlic, and onion to your greased slow cooker and whisk to combine.
- Add in colby jack, cream cheese, and half of the shredded cheddar and stir a bit if possible
- Place chicken breasts into sauce in slow cooker and turn a few times to coat
- Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on low or 2-3 hours on the high setting.
- 15 - 30 minutes before serving time, remove chicken and set aside.
- Stir in rice and broccoli
- Cut chicken into bite sized chunks and give it a good stir back into contents in your slow cooker
- When broccoli is cooked to your liking, top with remaining shredded cheddar and cover until melted.
- Serve promptly
Top Tip
Once the cheese on top has melted, remove your slow cooker insert from the heating element. If this dish continues to cook, the rice may get too mushy.
Whether you consider this delicious comfort food, or just plain awesome, the good news is that it is simple to make. This easy dinner idea will quickly become a family favorite!
🍽Serving suggestions
One of the best things about this dish is that is a complete meal on its own! Some favorite ways to serve it are:
- Side salad - your favorite garden veggie variety
- Warm side veggies - such as zucchini and squash parmesan, maple vanilla carrots, or cauliflower.
- Bread - a loaf of crusty bread is the ultimate sidekick.
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Storing leftovers
Store leftovers of this delicious rice casserole recipe in an airtight container or zip top bag. It will last 2 - 3 days in the refrigerator.
Leftovers can also be frozen for up to 3 months. For best results, allow your dish defrost in the refrigerator overnight prior to gently reheating.
IDEA
Store in meal sized portions for easy grab and go meals
🔁Substitution Ideas
- 2 teaspoons of minced jarred garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder can be used in place of the fresh in this delicious meal
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder can be used in place of the dried minced onion.
- 3. Chicken thighs can be used in place of breasts. Thighs are a more moist chicken and can be left to cook a bit longer than breasts.
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😉Hints & hacks
- To save time, buy pre-cut and washed broccoli.
- If you are concerned about your rice getting mushy, you can microwave it separately and serve the crock pot chicken broccoli mixture on top.
- To cook faster, cut chicken into bite sized pieces before cooking.
- If your chicken accidentally overcooks, shred it rather than cutting it into bite sized chunks. This will help to alleviate some dryness.
- Slow cooker liners are an optional but helpful hack whenever using a crockpot. They allow you to cook with little to no cleanup. I like to buy mine in bulk for a better per-piece price.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
❓FAQ's
Yes! Raw chicken can be safely cooked in a slow cooker. Use a meat thermometer for confirmation that chicken is safe to eat. According to the FDA, chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Yes! You can. Add 1.5 cups of brown rice (be sure not to use minute rice or any sort of quick cook rice) to your slow cooker along with the chicken. Keep in mind that the rice may get a bit mushier this way, but will taste delicious!!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Rice & Broccoli Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker or 3.5 quart or larger casserole crockpot
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4-5 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 8 oz. cream cheese cut into chunks
- ½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese divided
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 8 oz microwaveable rice packets
- 2 cups broccoli florets
Instructions
- add 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 cup chicken brothroth, 4-5 cloves minced garlic, 1 tsp. onion powder, 8 oz. cream cheese, ½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese, and half of the cheddar cheese to greased slow cooker and stir to combine.1 cup chicken broth
- place chicken into sauce and spoon some of the sauce/cheese mixture overtop4-5 cloves minced garlic, 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard, 1 tsp. onion powder
- cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours on low or 2-4 hours on high
- 15 - 30 minutes before serving, remove chicken from slow cooker and cut into bite-sized pieces2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- temper ½ cup sour cream by adding some of the hot liquid from the slow cooker into it to bring to a higher temperature. Stir tempered sour cream it into the sauce.
- stir chicken, 2 8 oz microwaveable rice packets and 2 cups broccoli florets into the sauce
- cover and allow rice and broccoli to cook8 oz. cream cheese, ½ cup shredded Colby jack cheese, ½ cup sour cream, ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- top with remaining cheddar cheese and cover just until melted¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Video
Notes
- Be sure to fully break up the rice from the microwaveable pouch before adding it to your slow cooker. Otherwise, it will cook in one big clump.
- See above notes for substitution ideas and serving suggestions.
- If you are short on time and want your dish to cook faster, cut chicken into chunks before cooking.
Nutrition
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