Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy, comforting texture. The trick I discovered is using evaporated milk for extra creaminess. The result is a cozy, better-than-takeout dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes hands-on. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Tomato and White Bean Soup with Garlic Toast and Easy S’mores Cookie Cake Recipe Perfect for Dessert.
Why This Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Better than takeout taste at home
- Creamy, comforting, and packed with protein
- Easy, hands-off cooking in the crockpot
- Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping
What You'll Need for Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: You can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- broccoli florets: Frozen broccoli florets work great too.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Crockpot — Pays for itself vs takeout → See on Amazon
- Evaporated milk — Creamier texture → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Top with broccoli florets and uncooked rice.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix condensed cream of chicken soup, evaporated milk, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken and broccoli.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir in shredded cheese during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken or it will become tough. If using frozen broccoli, add it after 4 hours of cooking on low or 2 hours on high to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Pro tip: For a thicker, creamier sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir it into the crockpot during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
- Pro tip: To make this dish spicy, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the soup mixture.
Storing & Reheating Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- Best substitution: Instead of chicken, you can use turkey or beef.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the soup mixture and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, place the chicken and broccoli in the crockpot and pour the soup mixture over the top.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir it into the crockpot. If the chicken is not cooked through, cook it on high for an additional 30 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
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Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Top with broccoli florets and uncooked rice.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix condensed cream of chicken soup, evaporated milk, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken and broccoli.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir in shredded cheese during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a lower-carb version, use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
- Best substitution: Instead of chicken, you can use turkey or beef.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the soup mixture and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, place the chicken and broccoli in the crockpot and pour the soup mixture over the top.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thin, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir it into the crockpot. If the chicken is not cooked through, cook it on high for an additional 30 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 17g
- Carbs: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the soup mixture and store it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, place the chicken and broccoli in the crockpot and pour the soup mixture over the top.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. To prevent this, use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
No, this recipe is specifically designed for the crockpot. However, you can cook the chicken in the air fryer and then assemble the dish in the crockpot.
Yes, this dish is naturally gluten-free. However, always check the labels of your specific ingredients to ensure they are certified gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
