Description
Creamy chicken broccoli casserole brings comfort straight to your dinner table, warming hearts with its cheesy, satisfying blend of tender chicken and fresh broccoli. Weeknight dinners feel effortless when this classic dish comes together quickly, making your family smile with each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
Soup and Seasoning Base:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Topping:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Shred or dice 2 cups of cooked chicken into small, uniform bite-sized pieces for easy eating.
- Wash and cut 2 cups of broccoli florets, then steam or blanch them for exactly 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Mix chicken, broccoli, 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, ½ cup of cheddar cheese, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a large mixing bowl until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter, then transfer the mixture into the dish and spread it evenly.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of breadcrumbs across the top of the casserole.
- Drizzle another 1 tablespoon of olive oil or melted butter over the breadcrumb topping to help it brown nicely.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the edges become bubbly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Chicken choice matters, so use rotisserie or leftover roasted chicken for extra flavor depth.
- Steam broccoli just until bright green to maintain a crisp texture and prevent mushiness.
- Swap cream of mushroom soup with cream of chicken or a homemade white sauce for a fresher taste.
- For gluten-free version, replace breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond meal.
- Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
- Cook Time: 28-34 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg