Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli Rice is the ultimate easy, comforting dinner. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it creamy and preventing soggy rice. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Za’atar Smashed Potatoes with Creamy Tahini Yogurt and Easy Tomato and White Bean Soup with Garlic Toast.
Why This Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Easy, one-pot cooking
- Creamy, cheesy, and comforting
- Better than takeout taste
- Perfect for busy weeknights
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.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Chicken broth
- Cream of chicken soup
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken broth: Use low-sodium if possible.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow Cooker — Ensures even cooking and prevents burning. → See on Amazon
- Meat Thermometer — Guarantees perfectly cooked chicken every time. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Place in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Step 2: Add uncooked rice, broccoli florets, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: To prevent soggy rice, don't overcook or add too much liquid. If it's still too soggy, drain some of the liquid before serving.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, brown the chicken breasts in a pan before adding them to the crockpot.
- Pro tip: To make this dish even creamier, stir in a tablespoon of sour cream or Greek yogurt before serving.
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 in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead and reheated as needed.
Freezing Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use chicken breasts and low-sodium chicken broth. You can also use brown rice instead of white rice.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated as needed. See storage notes for details.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still too hard after cooking, add a little more chicken broth and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Crockpot Liners — Makes cleanup a breeze and prevents sticking. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Broccoli florets
- Long grain white rice
- Chicken broth
- Cream of chicken soup
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Italian seasoning
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Place in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Step 2: Add uncooked rice, broccoli florets, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup to the crockpot. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through and rice is tender.
- Step 4: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a healthier version, use chicken breasts and low-sodium chicken broth. You can also use brown rice instead of white rice.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and milk.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated as needed. See storage notes for details.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still too hard after cooking, add a little more chicken broth and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated as needed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 7g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Crockpot Dinner FAQs
Yes, this dish can be made ahead and reheated as needed. See storage notes for details.
To prevent soggy rice, don't overcook or add too much liquid. If it's still too soggy, drain some of the liquid before serving.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
No, this dish is best made in the crockpot for even cooking and tender rice.
For a healthier version, use chicken breasts and low-sodium chicken broth. You can also use brown rice instead of white rice.
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!
