This is the creamy, cheesy, golden-topped comfort casserole that feeds the whole family. Tender chicken, bright broccoli, fluffy rice, all baked in a homemade cheddar cheese sauce and topped with crispy turkey bacon. Fifty minutes, serves eight, freezer-friendly, and kids actually eat their broccoli. The Sunday dinner that ends up on repeat.
Fun fact: chicken-broccoli-rice casserole is a descendant of the 1950s American “chicken divan” — a creamy baked chicken-and-broccoli dish named after the Divan Parisien restaurant in NYC. The original used a sherry-cream Mornay sauce; the convenience version swapped in canned cream-of-something soup. This recipe goes back to a real homemade cheese sauce — fresher, richer, no can.
Why this recipe works
REAL cheese sauce, no canned soup. A 5-minute roux-based cheddar sauce tastes infinitely better than condensed soup and isn’t any harder.
BLANCH the broccoli. 30 seconds in boiling water keeps it bright green and crisp-tender instead of gray and mushy.
CRISPY topping. Turkey bacon + extra cheddar on top gives the golden, crispy contrast against the creamy interior.
Ingredients
Serves 8.
Base:
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (rotisserie works)
4 cups broccoli florets, blanched
3 cups cooked white rice
6 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cheddar cheese sauce:
4 tbsp butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup chicken broth
2.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar (divided)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt + 1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
Topping:
1 cup shredded cheddar
Crumbled turkey bacon
Fresh parsley
Instructions
Step 1: Prep oven + dish
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 2: Blanch the broccoli
Boil broccoli florets 30 seconds, drain, and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside.
Step 3: Make the cheese sauce
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium. Whisk in flour; cook 60 seconds. Slowly whisk in milk and broth. Simmer 3-4 minutes until thickened. Off heat, stir in 1.5 cups cheddar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika until smooth.
Step 4: Combine
In a large bowl, combine the chicken, blanched broccoli, cooked rice, half the crumbled bacon, and the cheese sauce. Fold together.
Step 5: Transfer + top
Spread in the prepared dish. Top with 1 cup cheddar and the remaining bacon.
Step 6: Bake
Bake 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden and the casserole is heated through.
Step 7: Garnish + serve
Let rest 5 minutes. Sprinkle fresh parsley. Scoop and serve.
Nutrition information
Calories: 480 kcal per serving
Protein: 34 g
Carbohydrates: 30 g
Fat: 24 g
Saturated Fat: 13 g
Sodium: 980 mg
Pro tips for the best cheesy chicken broccoli casserole
