Easy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Name: Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 12 ounces frozen broccoli; 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup; 3 tablespoons mayonnaise; 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

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This Chicken and Broccoli Casserole is a creamy, cheesy, and delicious weeknight dinner option that can be made in minutes. It's so easy and comforting and a complete meal when paired with rice or noodles.

If you're craving more broccoli recipes, then be sure to try making a comforting One Pot Broccoli Mac and Cheese or some crispy Oven Roasted Broccoli. For another casserole option, try making the popular Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Pasta, it's a blog favorite.

overhead view of finished casserole in glass baking dish

This chicken casserole recipe is one that the whole family will enjoy. It is also great for potluck events or gifting to a friend or loved one as a freezer meal after surgery or a new baby. A tried and true boneless chicken recipe that even picky eaters are sure to enjoy. It's great because it's perfect for those times when you need something filling and hearty that will satisfy the hearts and bellies of the whole family.

It begins with cooked chicken. While the chicken is cooking, you can prepare some frozen broccoli or take a shortcut by using a steamable bag of broccoli, which can be found in the frozen food section of the grocery store. This is a great time saver and one less thing that requires cleaning up.

You make a simple and tasty sauce by mixing together mayonnaise with some creamy soup to combine with the tender chicken. Then the fun begins by layering everything in a casserole dish. This casserole bakes in about 20 minutes and can be served with cooked rice or egg noodles for an easy dinner.

So simple, let's get started!

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Ingredients You'll Need
How To Make Broccoli Chicken Casserole
Recipe Tips & Tricks
Variations
Storage
Chicken Broccoli Casserole: Frequently Asked Questions
More Recipes You'll Love
📖 Recipe

Ingredients You'll Need

overhead view of ingredients needed to make casserole in separate bowls on marble surface

Chicken Breasts - You want to use boneless skinless chicken breast that you have to dice up into smaller pieces. Now you could use chicken thighs or even tenderloins as well.
Broccoli - Frozen broccoli is preserved at its peak, so you have delicious broccoli that tastes just as good as buying fresh. The best part is that it is a more affordable option. Try to select broccoli florets instead of chopped broccoli.
Cream of Chicken Soup - You can really use any flavor of the cream of soup that you prefer for this recipe, but I prefer to use a can of cream of chicken soup. Cream of broccoli, celery, mushroom, etc. will work as well.
Mayonnaise - The mayo helps to really give this dish a rich and creamy flavor that allows it to stand out. It also helps to bind everything together into a creamy sauce.
Cheese - I prefer to use shredded cheddar cheese, but you can swap out the cheddar cheese with any variety of cheese that you would like or have on hand.

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How To Make Broccoli Chicken Casserole

Begin the chicken broccoli casserole recipe by preparing the chicken first. Season the raw chicken, cook it, and allow it to cool before cutting it into small pieces and set aside.

overhead view of cooked and cut up chicken in white bowl on marble surface

In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the frozen broccoli and allow it to cook until no longer frozen, about 5 minutes. You may also use the microwave for faster results if you prefer. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the cream of chicken soup and mayonnaise until combined to make the cream sauce. Add the prepared chicken to the soup mixture and stir to combine.

chicken, soup, and mayo combined in glass mixing bowl

Grab a 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish and lightly spray it with cooking spray before spreading the chicken mixture at the bottom in an even layer.

chicken mixture added to glass casserole dish

Top the chicken mixture with the prepared broccoli and spread out in an even layer.

broccoli added to chicken mixture in glass casserole dish

Add the shredded cheddar cheese on top in an even layer and place into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and is bubbly and lightly golden brown.

shredded cheese added to casserole with other ingredients in glass baking dish

Carefully remove the cheesy casserole from the oven and serve warm with cooked white rice or egg noodles. Enjoy!

small bowl of chicken and broccoli casserole with rice beside a fork

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Make sure to dice up the chicken into bite-size pieces. They will cook evenly and at the same time, but will also be a nice bite when eating the casserole.
You can use fresh broccoli if you would like. Just make sure to steam it first to better help break down the broccoli and make it a nice addition to the casserole.
You can easily make homemade cream soup if you would prefer to stay away from the canned versions.
Don't be afraid to add some extra flavor using red pepper flakes, garlic powder, or parmesan cheese to the soup mixture.

Variations

For a shortcut option, try using diced rotisserie chicken or some leftover chicken.
Try swapping the chicken with some diced ham instead for a nice twist of flavor.
Add in other vegetables like carrots and cauliflower, to add more nutrient-rich foods to the casserole.
You can use plain Greek yogurt or even sour cream in place of the mayonnaise in the recipe if you would like.

Storage

Refrigerate - You can refrigerate any leftover casserole that you may have. Just store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. Reheating can be done in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish or in the oven. If you opt to heat it in the oven make sure to cover the dish with foil or it can dry out your casserole.

Freezing - You can freeze any leftover broccoli and chicken casserole as well if you would like. You can freeze it in a freezer-friendly container for 2 to 3 months. Then thaw and reheat as you would like. I like to store them in single-serve containers so you can toss them in for lunches during the week.

Freezer Meal Option - If you want to make this into a freezer meal, then you can prep the dish according to the recipe instructions. Then instead of baking, cover tightly and then freeze for 3 to 4 months. When you want to cook, place it in the oven frozen at 350 degrees F. Let it cook for one hour covered. Then remove the foil and finish cooking until the dish is fully heated all the way through.

close up view of finished casserole in glass baking dish with a scoop taken out of it

Chicken Broccoli Casserole: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it better to use fresh or frozen broccoli in a casserole?

For many broccoli casseroles, either will work. But for this particular casserole recipe, frozen broccoli is needed and works best. Plus it makes the process go a little faster.

Can you put raw chicken in a casserole dish?

No, not for this recipe. Cooked chicken is needed. You may use leftover cooked chicken, cook it at the start of this recipe, or some rotisserie chicken.

What goes with cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole?

Pair with cooked white rice, brown rice, wild rice, or minute rice. Cooked egg noodles will work as well. This casserole is great on its own, but may also be paired with salad, dinner rolls, or your favorite side dish.

Should you thaw the frozen broccoli before using?

No, not for this recipe. Cook it from frozen but be careful not to overcook it. Just cook it according to the package instructions, but shorten the cooking time to 3 to 5 minutes. The broccoli should still be slightly firm and not mushy.

front view of finished casserole in glass dish with some taken out of it

More Recipes You'll Love

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to enjoy this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Casserole? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

overhead view of finished broccoli casserole in glass baking dish

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

LaKita Anderson

4.77 from 26 votes

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 294 kcal

Equipment

1 Rectangle 9x13-inch baking dish

Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
12 ounces frozen broccoli
1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

Begin the recipe by preparing the 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breast first. Season the raw chicken with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper. Cook the chicken (using oil as needed) in a large skillet over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Allow it to cool before cutting it into small pieces. Set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, add the 12 ounces of frozen broccoli and allow it to cook until no longer frozen, about 5 minutes. You may also use the microwave for faster results if you prefer.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the 1 can (10.5 ounces) of cream of chicken soup and 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise until combined.
Add the prepared chicken to the soup mixture and stir to combine. Grab a 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish and lightly spray with cooking spray before spreading the chicken mixture at the bottom in an even layer.
Top the chicken mixture with the prepared broccoli and spread in an even layer.
Add the 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese on top in an even layer and place into the oven to bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until the cheese has completely melted and is bubbly and lightly golden.
Carefully remove the chicken casserole from the oven and serve warm with cooked rice or egg noodles. Enjoy!

Notes

Make sure to dice up the chicken into bite-size pieces. They will cook evenly and at the same time, but will also be nice when eating the casserole.
You can use fresh broccoli if you would like. Just make sure to steam it first to better help break down the broccoli and make it a nice addition to the casserole.
You can easily make homemade cream soup if you would prefer to stay away from the canned versions.
For a shortcut option, try using diced rotisserie chicken.
Try swapping the chicken with some diced ham instead for a nice twist of flavor.
Add in other vegetables like carrots and cauliflower, to add more nutrient-rich foods to the casserole.
You can use plain Greek yogurt or even sour cream in place of the mayonnaise in the recipe if you would like.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 24gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 74mgSodium: 736mgPotassium: 445mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 3188IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 1mg

*All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands used, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Keyword chicken and broccoli casserole

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Original post date 07/24/2013. Updated 08/11/2022 & 09/05/2023.