Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner

Make Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice

To start making this easy one-pan meal, chop your broccoli into florets.  Don’t cut them too small or they will fall apart while cooking.

Next, chop your onions and set them aside.  I like to chop all my veggies first so I can use the same cutting board for any meat. If you need a time saving option, you can always buy pre-cut broccoli florets in the produce department of your local grocery store.

Next, dice the chicken into small cubes.  Try to make them about the same size so that they cook evenly, but don’t worry if they’re not perfect cubes.

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Once your butter is sizzling in the skillet, toss in the chicken and spices.  I like to measure all of my spices in advance so that I can just toss them all in at once. Add the onions to the skillet. Cook the chicken most of the way through and add the minced garlic.  I use pre-minced garlic to save time and dishes.

Make sure your onions are soft before moving on to the next step.  Crunchy raw onions will definitely turn off your picky eaters!

Once your chicken is cooked and your onions are soft, add the rice, broccoli, and chicken broth.  Bring all of this to a boil and then reduce heat to medium.

Cover with a lid and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  If your stove seems to be on the hot side, you might want to reduce the temp to medium-low, just to avoid the chance of burning the bottom or boiling over.

The last step is to add the shredded cheddar cheese.  If I’m being honest, I rarely measure out an exact cup.  In my opinion, it’s hard to have too much cheese in a recipe, so I toss in a couple large handfuls and mix it all together so it melts and binds the broccoli, rice, and chicken together.   Once I’ve mixed the cheese in, I actually sprinkle even more cheese on the top (Can you really go wrong with a little extra cheese?) then put the lid on the skillet until everything has melted.

• I’ve found from making so many of these one-pan rice skillet meals that Jasmine Rice cooks pretty quickly and consistently in recipes like this one.

• If you use regular long grain white rice or a different kind of rice it may need a little bit more chicken broth or take longer to cook.

• You can find chopped broccoli florets and diced onion in the produce department if you want to save a few minutes of prep time.

• Frozen broccoli cooks quicker than raw, so if using frozen wait until about the last 5-7 minutes of the cooking process before adding it to the rice and chicken.

• Chicken tenders, chicken thighs, or even ground chicken would work in this recipe. You can use whatever your family likes!

• I like shredding my cheese from a block for a better consistency, but you can use any cheese you already have in the refrigerator. This recipe is also good with Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or even mozzarella cheese.

• I keep the seasonings pretty simple on this one (which is probably why my kids like it so much), but you can add any other seasonings you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

What rice works best in one-pan rice meals?

From making several of these one-pan rice meals, I’ve found that Jasmine Rice cooks quickly and consistently in recipes like Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice. You can use a regular long grain rice instead, but it might need a little bit extra chicken broth and take a little bit longer to soften.

Why rinse Jasmine Rice?

I always rinse rice in skillet meals because it helps the rice be less starchy. It helps the rice be fluffier instead of stickier. Be sure to drain the liquid well before adding the rinsed rice to your skillet meal.

Can I use frozen broccoli in Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet?

Yes, a bag of frozen broccoli florets can definitely be used in this recipe. I would add the frozen broccoli once you add the minced garlic!

Can I use chicken thighs in this recipe?

Yes, chicken thighs would work great in this recipe. Chicken thighs are a good option because they stay nice and juicy!

Can I use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, either ground turkey or ground chicken would work in this recipe if you like those proteins.

What can I use instead of ranch seasoning?

I like the flavors the ranch seasoning gives this meal, but if you don’t like cooking with it you could use 1 tsp each of garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley instead. Italian seasoning would also be good in this recipe. Or add any other seasonings you like!

If you make this Cheesy Broccoli Rice Skillet Meal, I hope it’s a hit! If you like the recipe, please leave a recipe rating or save this recipe to your Pinterest account.