Cheese chicken and broccoli skillet

Why you should make this chicken and broccoli recipe tonight

One pot. It’s easy to clean up, and I love that you can let it rest in the oven overnight (or leave it free to roast the garlic knots for garnish!) High in protein. This Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli sounds like an indulgent dinner, but it’s actually super healthy. Simple ingredients, rich flavor, and a complete meal on its own. Contains 32 grams of protein per serving and less than 400 calories. Perfect for weeknights. Use up your weekend leftovers and have dinner on the table in under an hour. There’s no better day than Monday.

you need these materials

I always make this recipe with leftovers, but the shopping list is super easy if you need them. Here’s what you’ll need to make this chicken and broccoli recipe: Scroll down to the recipe card after the post for printable quantities and detailed instructions.

Olive oil – You can use butter or another cooking oil instead. Onions and Garlic – Dice the yellow onion and mince the fresh garlic. If you don’t have fresh garlic, substitute 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder for each clove. Ground Chicken – This recipe works with any type of chicken, but I love the convenience of ground chicken. You can also make it with ground turkey, pork, or beef. Seasoning – In addition to salt and pepper, season the chicken with paprika and red pepper flakes. If you are sensitive to chili peppers, you can omit it. Cooked Rice – This chicken and broccoli is a great recipe to use up leftover rice. Otherwise, you will have to prepare rice in large quantities according to the cooking instructions. Broccoli – Frozen broccoli florets are my favorite shortcut. If using frozen broccoli, be sure to thaw it before use. You can also use fresh broccoli, chopped into bite-sized pieces. In this case, it is recommended to parboil the florets first so that they do not become completely raw. Soup – Use homemade chicken stock if you have it in the fridge or freezer. Otherwise, low-sodium soup or store stock is best. Cheddar cheese – You can use any cheese that can be broken into pieces and melted. I like cheddar cheese, but you can also use mozzarella, provolone, havarti, swiss, or even velvita cheese. Sour cream – optional, but makes the cheese sauce extra creamy. If you want Greek yogurt or plain yogurt, it’s a good substitute for sour cream.

How to make cheese chicken rice with broccoli

The first time I made this, I was amazed at the flavor of the seasoned ground chicken and creamy rice. Making it creamy is optional, so you can leave out the sour cream if you like. Here are the steps:

Saute. First, fry the onions and garlic in a frying pan with oil over medium heat. Cook until onions are soft, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Add other ingredients. Increase the heat and add the chicken. Stir to break up the meat until browned and season with salt, pepper, paprika, and chili flakes. Add the cooked rice and broccoli, and finally pour in the chicken broth. Cook. Bring the chicken and broccoli to a boil, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, until the rice is cooked through and tender.

Finish and serve. Finally, add sour cream and stir to season the pan. Scatter the shredded cheese on top, cover again and let it melt before serving.

Quick tips and variations

Use pre-cooked ingredients. That’s not to say you can’t cook ingredients like rice and broccoli the same night, but it’s much faster to make this recipe using frozen (thawed) broccoli and cooked rice. Use up any leftovers! Swap out the ground chicken. Use pre-cooked shredded chicken instead of ground chicken. In this case, mix it with the seasonings just before adding the broccoli and rice. At the end add sour cream. The key is to add it after the chicken and broccoli are boiled. If you add the sour cream first, it may overcook and crack. Omit the cheese. For a lighter option, you can omit the shredded cheese. It won’t be as cheesy, but it will still be creamy!

what to eat with chicken and broccoli

I made this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice as an all-in-one meal, but I’ll never stop serving it with bread for dinner! I love making homemade French bread into garlic bread, and this fluffy boiled cornbread is a family favorite. Spoon bread is also a fun dish that can be shared.

Storing and reheating leftovers

Please refrigerate. Store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. This Cheesy Chicken with Rice and Broccoli will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days when stored tightly closed. Reheat. Heat this chicken and broccoli in a skillet or in a 350°F oven. If the rice has absorbed too much water, add a little chicken broth while reheating the leftovers.

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